U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland Announces Multiple Prosecutions in Operation Take Back America

State of MD - U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes recently announced several prosecutions from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland as part of the Department of Justice's Operation Take Back America. The initiative targets illegal immigration, cartel activity, and violent crime across the nation.

Hayes made the announcement alongside Acting Field Office Director Vernon Liggins of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) Baltimore Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Heck of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Maryland.

Sentencing for Resisting Arrest

U.S. Magistrate Judge Ajmel A. Quereshi sentenced Cristian Rivas-Bonilla, a 27-year-old El Salvadorian citizen, to time served. The sentencing followed Rivas-Bonilla's guilty plea for resisting and interfering with federal law enforcement officers.

The incident occurred in November 2025 when HSI agents traveled to Camp Springs, Maryland, to locate Rivas-Bonilla, who had a final order of removal from an immigration judge. He attempted to evade officers and led them on a high-speed car chase.

Guilty Plea for Illegal Re-Entry

Willians Elenilson Beltran-Quintanilla, a 39-year-old El Salvadorian citizen, pled guilty to illegally re-entering the United States after removal. Court documents show that law enforcement found Beltran-Quintanilla in Prince George's County, Maryland, in December 2023 after he had been previously removed from the country.

Indictment Following Home Invasion Convictions

The U.S. Attorney's Office indicted Kevin Mendez Vasquez, a 45-year-old El Salvadorian national, for illegally re-entering the United States.

Mendez Vasquez, also known as Kevin Estix Lara Henriquez, was previously convicted of burglary, grand larceny, and abduction in connection with three home invasions in Fairfax County, Virginia.

He was removed from the country following those convictions. ICE officers arrested him on January 19, 2026, during a vehicle investigation in Elkridge, Maryland.

Criminal Complaint Filed Against Repeat Deportee

The U.S. Attorney's Office filed a criminal complaint against Juan Carlos Rivas-Montano, a 45-year-old El Salvadorian national, for illegal re-entry.

Law enforcement received a tip in December 2025 that Rivas-Montano was working in Hyattsville, Maryland.

After confirming his identity, officers took him into custody. Authorities had previously deported Rivas-Montano on two separate occasions.

Additional Indictments

A federal grand jury indicted Samuel Rios-Rodriguez, a 33-year-old Honduran citizen, for illegal re-entry into the United States. The indictment states that Rios-Rodriguez was removed from the country in November 2017.

Law enforcement located him again in Maryland after his arrest in December 2022.

Another federal grand jury indicted Carlos Amador Lopez, a 29-year-old Honduran citizen, for illegal re-entry after an aggravated felony conviction and removal. The indictment indicates that Lopez was convicted of an aggravated felony and removed from the country.

Law enforcement encountered him again in Maryland in December 2025.

Operation Take Back America

These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide effort that uses the full resources of the Department of Justice to address illegal immigration, eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent crime.

U.S. Attorney Hayes recognized ICE-ERO and HSI for their investigative work. She also thanked the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who prosecuted these federal cases.

Disclosure: All individuals mentioned in this article are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Eastern Shore Undercover® does not express or imply any opinion regarding the incident reported.