Honduran Man Recently Charged With Illegal Re-Entry Faces Additional Firearms & Drug Distribution Charges

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – October10, 2019 – Franklin Pineda-Caceras, aka “Bomba”, 19, of Honduras, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury and charged with immigration violations, firearms and drug offenses, announced U.S. Attorney Don Cochran for the Middle District of Tennessee.  Pineda-Caceras was previously charged last month with illegally re-entering the United States after having been previously deported.

In addition to the immigration charge, the indictment charges Pineda-Caceras with being an illegal alien in possession of ammunition on July 17, 2019, and on September 8, 2019 - being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition; possessing another firearm which had the serial number removed; possession with intent to distribute marijuana and cocaine; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime.

According to charging documents, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and officers of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD) first encountered Pineda-Caceres in October 2017, during the execution of an arrest warrant on another individual at a Nashville residence.  Pineda-Caceres was taken into custody at that time by the MNPD and charged with drug crimes.  HSI agents determined that Pineda-Caceres unlawfully entered the United States in 2014 and a final order of removal was issued in June 2016. 

In February 2018, Pineda-Caceres was transferred to the custody of HSI and on May 3, 2018, he was placed on a plane and deported from the United States. 

In July, HSI and MNPD learned that Pineda-Caceres had returned to the United States and attempted to arrest him at a residence in Nashville on an outstanding warrant for aggravated kidnapping.  Pineda-Caceres was able to evade arrest but officers found cocaine, marijuana and digital scales inside the car he abandoned. 

On September 8, Pineda-Caceres was involved in an automobile accident in Nashville and MNPD officers recovered a substantial amount of cocaine from his vehicle.  Pineda Caceres was transported to Vanderbilt Hospital where MNPD officers subsequently identified him and arrested him on the outstanding kidnapping warrant. 

If convicted, Pineda-Caceres faces a minimum of five years and up to life in prison. 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ahmed Safeeullah.

An indictment is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 

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