Multiple defendants indicted on federal immigration charges in South Georgia

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Multiple defendants have been indicted by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia on immigration-related charges, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.

Federal prosecutors say the defendants are charged with re-entry after removal or deportation, a charge applied to people accused of illegally returning to the United States after previously being deported.

U.S. Attorney Margaret E. “Meg” Heap announced the indictments Thursday.

Those charged include:

• Alejandro Mendoza-Hernandez, 39, arrested in Long County
• Didier Mora-Tino, 38, arrested in Ware County
• Marcos Saraya-Canales, 26, arrested in Evans County
• Porfirio Suarez-Olan, 40, arrested in Atkinson County
• Luis Angel Velasquez-Montes, 27, arrested in Chatham County
• Kenny Omar Diaz-Diaz, 35, arrested in Chatham County

According to prosecutors, the defendants are citizens of Mexico or Honduras and were allegedly in the United States illegally after prior removals or deportations.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of up to two years in federal prison, followed by referral to immigration authorities for deportation proceedings.

Officials noted that indictments are only accusations and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

The cases are being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by assistant U.S. attorneys in the Southern District of Georg