Mexican and Salvadorian nationals residing in Las Vegas made their initial court appearances Thursday to face charges of illegally reentering the United States after previously being removed from the country.
David Cristales-Machado, 35, and Juan Manuel Lopez-Mendez, 35, are both charged with one count of deported alien found in the United States. Preliminary hearings for both defendants are scheduled for April 24, 2025, before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J Albregts.
According to allegations contained in the criminal complaints and statements made during court proceedings, Cristales-Machado, a citizen and national of El Salvador, and Lopez-Mendez, a citizen and national of Mexico, were both previously deported and removed from the United States and reentered the United States illegally.
On March 22, 2025, Cristales-Machado was remanded to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from the Clark County Detention Centre, based on an ICE detainer, after he had twice been arrested and convicted of carrying a concealed weapon without a permit.
Cristales-Machado had previously been deported on or about October 8, 2014. Cristales-Machado has three prior felony convictions: two for attempted possession of a stolen vehicle and one for attempted burglary.
On March 28, 2025, Lopez-Mendez was remanded to the custody of ICE from the Clark County Detention Centre, based on an ICE detainer, after he had been arrested for possession of a controlled substance by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police. Lopez-Mendez had previously been deported to Mexico on July 12, 2018.
Lopez-Mendez has two prior felony convictions: one for transport of a controlled substance and another for attempted possession of a stolen vehicle.
If convicted, Cristales-Machado faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison, a three-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.
If convicted, Lopez-Mendez faces a maximum statutory penalty of two years in prison, a one-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.
