LAS VEGAS — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Nevada), published as received.
LAS VEGAS – A Guatemalan national, who has felony convictions for battery with a deadly weapon causing substantial bodily harm out of Washoe, Nevada, false statement to a federal officer out of the Southern District of California, and has two felony convictions for illegal reentry, made his initial court appearance today to face charges of illegally reentering the United States after previously being removed from the country.
“Repeat criminal offenders who treat our nation's borders as a revolving door will face the full weight of federal prosecution,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “Under Title 8 of the United States Code, unlawful reentry after a previous deportation—particularly following aggravated felony convictions—constitutes a federal felony carrying substantial prison time under federal sentencing guidelines.”
Milton Daniel Lopez-Bonilla is charged with one-count of deported alien found in the United States. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 16, 2026, before United States Magistrate Judge Elayna J. Youchah.
According to allegations contained in the criminal complaint and statements made during court proceedings, Rodriguez-Betanco is a citizen and national of Guatemala who was previously deported five times: October 5, 1998, February 6, 1999, May 12, 2004, February 5, 2008, and July 10, 2020, and reentered the United States illegally.
On August 16, 2026, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took Lopez-Bonilla into custody after he was arrested in Reno, Nevada, on a prostitution-related charge. This will be Lopez-Bonilla’s third prosecution for illegal reentry into the United States.
If convicted, Lopez-Bonilla faces the maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison, a three-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada made the announcement.
The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated these cases; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada prosecuted these cases.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
This case is 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 (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A complaint is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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