TOLEDO, OHIO — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Ohio, Northern), published as received.

TOLEDO, Ohio – Five aliens have been sentenced for illegally entering the United States after being previously deported from the country. These cases are separate and not related. Upon completion of their sentences, they will be subject to a detainer from United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and will be taken into administrative immigration custody for removal from the U.S.

The following defendants previously pleaded guilty to Illegal Entry of a Removed Alien, in violation of Title 8 U.S. Code 1326:

  • Francisco Constancio-Mariscal, 38, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to time served. He was previously removed from the U.S. on at least two occasions, with the most recent being April 28, 2011. He was found in Port Clinton, Ottawa County, on Jan. 4.
  • Oscar Mendoza, 52, a citizen of Honduras, was sentenced to time served. He was previously removed from the U.S. on at least one occasion with the most recent being Jan. 17, 2008. He was found in Maumee, Lucas County, on Jan. 12.
  • Guillermo Gutierrez-Rivas, 36, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to time served. He was previously removed from the U.S. on at least one occasion with the most recent being June 29, 2024. He was found in Benton Township, Ottawa County, on Dec. 19, 2025.
  • Alvaro Veliz Gonzalez, 35, a citizen of Guatemala, was sentenced to 10 months in prison. He was previously removed from the U.S. on at least four occasions, with the most recent being Oct. 11, 2021. He was found in Toledo, Lucas County, on Dec. 8, 2025.
  • Marcos Alberto Bardales-Lopez, 27, a citizen of Honduras, was sentenced to time served. He was previously removed from the U.S. on at least one occasion, with the most recent being Dec. 6, 2019. He was found in Maumee, Lucas County, on Jan. 12.

Additionally, Jhofran Andres Laya-Gutierrez, 29, a citizen of Venezuela, was sentenced to 36 months in prison after pleading guilty to Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding a Federal Officer, Falsification of Records, and Misuse of a Social Security Number.

These investigations were conducted by the U.S. Border Patrol-Sandusky Bay Station.

The prosecutions were led by Assistant United States Attorneys Ava Rotell Dustin, Robert Melching, Sara Al-Sorghali, Alissa Sterling, and Matthew Simko for the Northern District of Ohio.

These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and to protect communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.