Federal Grand Juries in Bowling Green and Paducah Indict 4 Illegal Aliens for Immigration Offenses

Bowling Green and Paducah, KY – Federal grand juries in Bowling Green and Paducah, Kentucky, returned indictments on March 11th and 12th, 2025, charging 4 individuals with illegal reentry after deportation or removal.   

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of Homeland Security Investigations, Nashville, and Sam Olson, Field Office Director for Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Chicago, U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement made the announcement.

According to the indictments:

Pablo Felipe Baltazar, age 26, a citizen of Guatemala, was charged in Bowling Green with reentry after deportation or removal. On or about February 14, 2025, Baltazar was an alien found in United States after having been denied admission, excluded, deported, and removed from the United States on or about July 16, 2018, June 17, 2024, and August 4, 2024. If convicted he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. This case is being investigated by HSI, ICE/ERO.

Roman Cornejo-Melchor, age 50, a citizen of Mexico, was charged in Bowling Green with reentry after deportation or removal. On or about March 13, 2023, Cornejo-Melchor was an alien found in the United States after having been denied admission, excluded, deported, and removed from the United States on or about February 22, 2012, March 15, 2013, and April 13, 2013. If convicted he faces a maximum sentence of 2 years in prison. This case is being investigated by HSI, ICE/ERO.

Arcenio Perez-Martinez, age 49, a citizen of Mexico, was charged in Paducah with reentry after deportation or removal. On or about February 28, 2025, Perez-Martinez was an alien found in United States after having been denied admission, excluded, deported, and removed from the United States on or about September 13, 2019 and April 4, 2020. If convicted he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. This case is being investigated by HSI, ICE/ERO.

Oscar Rene Rodriguez, age 38, a citizen of El Salvador, was charged in Paducah with reentry after deportation or removal. On or about February 28, 2025, Rodriguez was an alien found in United States after having been denied admission, excluded, deported, and removed from the United States on or about July 9, 2009. If convicted he faces a maximum sentence of 2 years in prison. This case is being investigated by HSI, ICE/ERO.

A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

There is no parole in the federal system.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark J. Yurchisin II, of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office, and Raymond McGee, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, are prosecuting the cases.

These cases are 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.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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