BOSTON — A Guatemalan national with a criminal record spanning the U.S. including a conviction for human smuggling and who has been deported four times has admitted to having fake immigration documents while living in Massachusetts.
Jose Martinez-Lopez, also known as “Amalio Mendez-Molina,” 33, who is living illegally in West Springfield, pleaded guilty in federal court in Springfield to one count each of possession of a forged immigration document and unlawful reentry of a deported alien, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said Monday.
U.S. District Court Judge Mark Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Aug. 20. Martinez-Lopez, who was arrested in March, pleaded guilty on Friday.
Prior to his guilty plea, Martinez-Lopez reentered the U.S. unlawfully four times, was previously convicted in Arizona of human smuggling, was charged in Illinois with domestic battery/bodily harm, and was twice charged with assault on a police officer in Massachusetts.
On March 10, Martinez-Lopez was arrested in West Springfield for assault and battery on a police officer, which led to his apprehension by immigration authorities.
At the time of the arrest, Martinez-Lopez possessed a forged permanent resident card in the name of “Amalio Mendez-Molina,” Foley said.
On March 11, Martinez-Lopez admitted to immigration authorities that he was in the U.S. unlawfully and that he had re-entered the country illegally in 2021, Foley said.
Martinez-Lopez has been in and out of the United States for several years, federal authorities said.
On Aug. 28, 2009, Martinez-Lopez was removed from the U.S. to Guatemala after he entered the U.S. illegally at an unknown prior date.
Sometime after his removal, Martinez-Lopez unlawfully reentered the U.S. He was subsequently deported again on May 10, 2011.
After his deportation, Martinez-Lopez re-entered the U.S. illegally for a third time.
On Aug. 8, 2011, he was found guilty in Phoenix, Arizona of human smuggling conspiracy and sentenced to a one-year probationary period.
On Aug. 23, 2011, Martinez-Lopez was again removed from the U.S.
Sometime after his removal, Martinez-Lopez re-entered the U.S. illegally for a fourth time.
On Nov. 25, 2022 and June 17, 2023, Martinez-Lopez was twice arrested in Cook County, Illinois for domestic battery/bodily harm.
Both times, immigration authorities lodged detainers, but Martinez-Lopez was released from state court custody before any removal action could be taken, Foley said
For the charge of possession of a forged immigration document, Martinez-Lopez faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
For the charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien, Martinez-Lopez faces a sentence of up to two years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
He is subject to deportation after completing any sentence he receives.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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