A Guatemalan national living unlawfully in West Springfield, Massachusetts, was sentenced in federal court for possessing a forged immigration document and illegally reentering the United States after being deported. Jose Martinez-Lopez, also known as “Amalio Mendez-Molina,” 33, received a sentence of time served—163 days in prison—from U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni. Following the sentence, Martinez-Lopez is subject to deportation.
Martinez-Lopez pleaded guilty in June 2025 to one count each of possession of a forged immigration document and unlawful reentry of a deported alien. He was arrested in March 2025.
According to federal authorities, Martinez-Lopez has unlawfully entered the United States on four occasions. After first entering the country illegally on an unknown date, he was removed to Guatemala on August 28, 2009. He later reentered the United States and was deported again on May 10, 2011.
After his second removal, Martinez-Lopez returned for a third time and was convicted in Phoenix, Arizona, for human smuggling conspiracy on August 8, 2011. He received a one-year probationary sentence before being removed from the United States again on August 23, 2011.
He then entered the country illegally for a fourth time. In Cook County, Illinois, he was arrested twice—on November 25, 2022 and June 17, 2023—for domestic battery/bodily harm. Immigration authorities filed detainers both times but were unable to take action before his release from state custody.
On March 10, 2025, Martinez-Lopez was arrested in West Springfield for assault and battery on a police officer. At that time he possessed a forged permanent resident card under the name “Amalio Mendez-Molina.” The following day he admitted to immigration authorities that he had been present unlawfully since reentering the U.S. in 2021.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley stated: “United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow prosecuted the case from the Springfield Branch Office.
