2 Mexican illegal aliens sentenced to federal prison for drug, immigration crimes

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Two illegal aliens from Mexico were sentenced in U.S. District Court today for their roles in a cocaine conspiracy and for violating immigration laws.

Cristian Melendez, 42, and Ismerio Garcia-Ontivaro, 39, were transporting more than three kilograms of cocaine in a hidden compartment in a car when they were pulled over by law enforcement on I-70 in June 2025 for a window tint violation.

Melendez and Garcia-Ontivaro received the Honda Accord from a car hauler traveling from Arizona to Columbus. The Accord had a hidden compartment from the console to the rear seats.

Melendez and Garcia-Ontivaro were each sentenced today to 60 months in prison.

"Both defendants previously were convicted of drug trafficking and subsequently deported from the United States, only to illegally return and continue to traffic dangerous drugs into our communities," said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. "This Office will continue to aggressively prosecute such repeat offenders and seek strong sentences to hold them to account."

Both men were in the United States illegally after previously being removed and previously being convicted of aggravated felony offenses. Melendez had former convictions for trafficking heroin and illegally possessing firearms. Garcia-Ontivaro's prior crimes include cocaine trafficking in North Carolina.

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.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and Kevin Raycraft, Acting Field Office Director, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Detroit Field Office; announced the sentences imposed today by Chief U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth A. Geraghty is representing the United States in this case.

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