18 individuals charged in 'Operation Take Back America' initiative

Yahoo

4 days ago

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The Department of Justice announced Wednesday that the U.S. Attorney's Office has charged 18 individuals in separate criminal cases as part of the nationwide initiative, Operation Take Back America.
Operation Take Back America was established to repel illegal immigration, eliminate the presence of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect communities from perpetrators of violent crime. The operations streamline efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forecast and Project Safe Neighborhood.
The 18 people were charged last week, and the alleged offenses include:
Walter Adonai Rivera Chinchilla, 24, of Charlotte and Fausto Odalis Reyes Guevara, 27, of Honduras, were charged via a superseding indictment of conspiracy to provide false statements while buying a firearm. Guevara was also charged with possession of a firearm by a person in the United States illegally.
According to the indictment, on October 12, 2024, Guevara messaged Chinchilla seeking a '17' and a white Beretta for purchase. Two days later, Chinchilla allegedly purchased a Beretta 92FS pistol from Guns Too, a licensed firearms dealer in Caldwell County. When he purchased the firearm, Chinchilla allegedly lied on forms, claiming he was the actual buyer of the firearm when he was buying it for Guevara.
The indictment further alleges that on the same day, Chinchilla purchased a second firearm, a Glock 45 pistol, from Foothills Jewelry & Loan, a licensed dealer in Catawba County. The indictment claims Chinchilla lied again, saying the firearm was for him when it was intended for Guevara. Chinchilla also faces additional charges including trafficking in firearms, making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm and dealing in firearms without a license.
Jose Francisco Meraz-Villatoro, 31, of Mexico, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by someone in the country illegally and unlawful reentry. It is alleged that Meraz-Villatoro possessed two firearms: a Glock 43 9mm handgun and a Girsan Regard MC 9mm handgun.
Meraz-Villatoro was previously deported from the U.S. three times: in September 2013, July 2019 and in November 2022.
Carlos Sarmiento-Ochoa, 20, of Honduras, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and illegally reentering the country. He allegedly possessed a Glock 23, 40 caliber handgun and had previously been deported from the U.S. in May 2018 and October 2019.
Gial Obed Rodas-Hernandez, 20, of Honduras, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and illegal reentry. The indictment claims he unlawfully possessed a Taurus PT709 9mm handgun. He was previously deported in February 2021.
Jose Alberto Velazquez-Trejo, 41, of Mexico, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and illegal reentry. Velazquez-Trejo allegedly possessed a Sig Sauer P226 handgun. He was previously deported in May 2008.
Norman Enrique Lopez-Santamaria, 42, of Honduras, was charged with illegally reentering the U.S. after previously being deported and failing to notify of a change of address. Lopez-Santamaria was deported four times: in October 2002, in July 2009, in August 2010, and in May 2014.
Rogelio Hernandez-Flores, 50, of Mexico, was charged with illegally reentering the country and failing to notify of a change of address. He was previously deported from the U.S. in August 1997, July 2003 and November 2007.
Luis Zamora-Cruz, 47, of Mexico, was charged with illegally reentering the U.S. and failure to notify of a change of address. Zamora-Cruz was previously deported in July 2010 and May 2017.
Christian Emanuel Valladares-Sierra, 25, of Honduras, was charged with illegally reentering the U.S. and failure to notify of a change of address. Valladares-Sierra was previously deported in September 2018.
Josue Oveniel Martinez-Avalo, 31, of Honduras, was charged with illegally reentering the U.S. and failure to notify of a change of address. Martinez-Avalo was deported in June 2014.
Luis Alfredo Navarrete Pastrana, 32, of Mexico, was charged with illegally reentering the U.S. He was previously deported in October 2021.
Bryan Flowers, 53, of Hickory, was charged with bank robbery. According to the indictment, on April 17, Flowers allegedly robbed a Peoples Bank in Lincolnton by 'force, violence and intimidation.'
Dwayne Furlow Chaney, 40, of Charlotte, was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon. Chaney allegedly illegally possessed a Smith & Wesson M&P, a .40 caliber pistol and did so knowing he was prohibited from having a firearm due to his prior criminal conviction.
Marshall Demetrius Rice, 45, of Charlotte, was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon.The indictment alleges that Rice illegally possessed a Smith & Wesson, model SD9VE, 9mmpistol, after being convicted of a prior criminal offense.
Damiyus Diamonte Fowler, 28, of Charlotte, was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon. He allegedly had a Glock 19, Gen 5 9mm caliber pistol in his possession.
Aaron Deondre Conway, 41, of Charlotte, was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon.The indictment alleges that Conway illegally possessed a Walther, Model PPK/S .380 caliberpistol, and did so knowing he was prohibited from possessing a firearm following his priorcriminal conviction.
Jamil Omire Ali, 31, of Charlotte, was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon. Aliallegedly possessed a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield, .40 caliber pistol.
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