A Guatemalan national residing unlawfully in West Springfield, Massachusetts, has admitted guilt in federal court to charges related to possession of a forged immigration document and illegal reentry into the United States. Jose Martinez-Lopez, also known as “Amalio Mendez-Molina,” aged 33, entered his guilty plea on June 13, 2025. The proceedings took place before U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni, who scheduled sentencing for August 20, 2025.
Martinez-Lopez was apprehended in March 2025 after an arrest for assault and battery on a police officer led to his capture by immigration authorities. At the time of his arrest, he possessed a forged permanent resident card under the name “Amalio Mendez-Molina.” He later confessed to being unlawfully present in the country since reentering illegally in 2021.
His history includes multiple unlawful entries into the United States following deportations. Initially removed on August 28, 2009, he reentered and was deported again on May 10, 2011. Subsequently, Martinez-Lopez was convicted of human smuggling conspiracy in Phoenix, Arizona on August 8, 2011 and received a one-year probation sentence before another removal on August 23 that year.
After further illegal reentries and arrests for domestic battery/bodily harm in Cook County, Illinois during November 2022 and June 2023—where detainers were lodged but not executed—he was eventually arrested again in March this year.
The charges against him carry significant penalties: up to ten years imprisonment for possession of a forged document and two years for unlawful reentry; both accompanied by potential fines up to $250,000 each and supervised release terms. Upon serving any imposed sentence under these guidelines, deportation will be considered.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley alongside Patricia H. Hyde from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations announced the case details while Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow is leading prosecution efforts.
