Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that Marcelo Ordonez-Rivas, a 46-year-old native of Honduras, was indicted on July 10, 2025, for re-entry of a removed alien. This charge is in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
Court documents reveal that Ordonez-Rivas was found in Jefferson Parish on June 18, 2025. He had previously been convicted in 2016 for illegal re-entry of a removed alien and was subsequently deported to Honduras around June 10, 2016.
If found guilty, Ordonez-Rivas could face up to ten years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson emphasized that an indictment is merely a charge and the defendant’s guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America. The initiative aims to combat illegal immigration and dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime. It consolidates efforts from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Simpson acknowledged the role of U.S. Customs and Border Protection in investigating this case. Special Assistant United States Attorney Frederick W. Veters Jr., from the General Crimes Unit, is overseeing the prosecution.
