Guatemalan Illegal Alien Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the United States

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - A Guatemalan National illegally residing in the Springfield, Greene County, Missouri, area, was sentenced yesterday in federal court for Illegal Re-entry by an Alien after subsequently convicted of a prior aggravated felony crime.

Miguel Guzman-Guerra, also known as Joel Montoya Ortiz, 38, was sentenced yesterday by District Court Chief Judge Brian Wimes for the offense of illegal re-entry into the United States by an alien after having been previously convicted of an aggravated felony offense. Mr. Guzman-Guerra was sentenced to 24 months' imprisonment with the Bureau of Prisons. Upon serving his period of imprisonment, Mr. Guzman-Guerra will be deported to his native country of Guatemala.

On Jan. 23, 2025, officers with the Carthage, Missouri, Police Department arrested Mr. Guzman-Guerra during a traffic stop and charged him with driving while revoked, identity theft, and failure to register as a sex offender. Upon determining that Mr. Guzman-Guerra was illegally within the United States, local law enforcement contacted agents with the Department of Homeland Security - Immigration Customs Enforcement (HSI-ICE). Agents responded and confirmed that Mr. Guzman-Guerra was illegally in the United States after having been removed previously in 2014.

Mr. Guzman-Guerra's was previously convicted for a prior aggravated felony offense of sexual indecency with a child, prior to his illegal re-entry into the United States.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security-Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Carthage, Missouri, Police Department.

Operation Take Back America

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.