A federal grand jury has indicted Trinidad Amaya-Montoya, also known as Bernardo Cardana, a 39-year-old citizen of Honduras, on charges of illegal reentry into the United States. The announcement was made by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
United States Attorney Brian D. Miller stated that Amaya-Montoya was found in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, on January 27, 2026. According to the indictment, he had previously been removed from the United States through Brownsville, Texas, on May 18, 2016. He allegedly reentered the country without obtaining legal permission.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelley K. McGraw is handling the prosecution.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), a national initiative led by the Department of Justice to address illegal immigration and target criminal organizations.
If convicted, Amaya-Montoya faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison, supervised release after imprisonment, and a fine. Sentencing would be determined by a judge who will consider federal statutes and sentencing guidelines.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasized that indictments are only allegations and all individuals charged are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
