Guatemalan Living in New Bedford Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry

BOSTON (WBSM) — For the third time in a little over a week, a Guatemalan national living in New Bedford has appeared in federal court in Boston on charges of illegally reentering the United States after deportation.

On May 20, Manuel Ruiz Luis, 52, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Then on May 22, Jose De Leon Ventura, 30, pleaded guilty to one count of the same charge.

Today, Mario Lopez, 35, has pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien as well, after he was indicted by a federal grand jury in April.

Lopez Was Deported in 2010

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Lopez was deported from the U.S. on December 8, 2010 following an assault conviction in Maryland. He attempted to return to the U.S. twice in 2022 but was denied entry. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said he then unlawfully reentered the U.S. on an unknown date.

Lopez Was Arrested Once in Westport, Twice in New Bedford

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Lopez was arrested by local law enforcement in Westport on an open warrant in November 2023.

He was then arrested in March 2024 in New Bedford for unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, open and gross lewdness and an open container violation.

Lopez was then arrested again in New Bedford in December 2024, this time for operating under the influence of liquor, leaving the scene of property damage, negligent operation and other charges.

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Lopez Faces Up to a Decade in Prison

The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien in this case provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.

Lopez is scheduled to be sentenced on July 10, 2025.

ICE and Law Enforcement Team Up to Arrest Illegal Aliens

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other law enforcement partners have arrested 370 “alien offenders” during an “enhanced operation” in Massachusetts, including a man in New Bedford, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

Gallery Credit: Tim Weisberg