Grand Jury Returns Indictments

MINNEAPOLIS—A federal grand jury in the District of Minnesota, sitting in Minneapolis, returned the following indictments yesterday. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation, and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Any sentence is determined by a federal district judge.

Mexican citizen charged with illegal re-entry into U.S.

Arnoldo Aguirre-Vasquez, age 44, a citizen of Mexico found in Renville, Minnesota, is charged with illegally re-entering the United States after previously being deported. If convicted, Aguirre-Vasquez faces a potential maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. This case is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Manda M. Sertich.

Kentucky man charged with robbing Eagle Lake bank

George Richard Gaunt, age 25, of Louisville, Kentucky, was charged with one count of bank robbery.
If convicted, Gaunt faces a potential maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Eagle Lake Police Department and the Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katharine T. Buzicky.

Rochester felon charged with gun crime

James Kent Johnson, age 34, of Rochester, was charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Since Johnson’s prior felony convictions were for violent crimes, he is subject to the federal armed career criminal statute in the current federal case. That statute mandates a minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison upon conviction. This case is the result of an investigation by the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas M. Hollenhorst.