Guilty Plea Entered in Western Kentucky Federal Immigration and Firearms Case
A defendant charged in the federal immigration and firearms prosecution announced in August has admitted guilt; sentencing terms remain to be decided.
3 reports on this incident · first at Aug 15, 2026, 2:25 a.m. ET
Earlier reports
Aug 15, 2026, 2:53 a.m. ET
Ten Charged in Western Kentucky Federal Immigration and Firearms Cases
Federal grand juries in Paducah and Bowling Green have charged ten men with immigration and firearms offenses, according to an announcement on Aug. 14, 2026 reported by westkentuckystar.com and KFVS12. The cases were brought by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Kentucky.
The charges listed are illegal entry after deportation or removal, illegal reentry after deportation or removal, possessing a firearm as an illegal alien, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and use of a false passport. The named defendants are Juan Jose Ochoa-Avila, 45, a citizen of Honduras; Misael Hernandez Romero, 35, a citizen of Mexico; Errson Lopez Gomez, 39, a citizen of Guatemala; Candelario Pastor-Gonzalez, 31, a citizen of Guatemala; Mario Rodriguez-Gonzalez, 58, a citizen of Mexico; Noel Carbajal-Panfilo, 52, of Mexico; Nicholas Hernandez-Vargas, 48, of Mexico; Cesar Yoc-Coronado, 29, of Guatemala; Samuel Chavez-Nunez, 44, of Mexico; and German Neri-Ibanez, 36, of Mexico.
An indictment is only an accusation. None of the ten men has gone to trial, none has been convicted, and each is presumed innocent unless and until guilt is proven in court. Neither outlet's account of the announcement included such a statement.
The two outlets describe the alleged conduct somewhat differently. Westkentuckystar.com reported that the grand juries charged ten illegal aliens with immigration violations including illegal reentry after deportation, possessing firearms while unlawfully present and use of a false passport, and that the government alleges Ochoa-Avila purchased a 9-millimeter semiautomatic handgun in Graves County, Kentucky. KFVS12 reported that the government alleges Ochoa-Avila bought and carried a 9-millimeter semiautomatic handgun between March and June 2026 in Graves County after prior convictions and deportations to Honduras, and that the other defendants were found in the United States after having been denied admission, excluded, deported and removed. The Mayfield Police Department is among the investigating agencies, according to KFVS12.
The outlets also differ on potential penalties, all of which are statutory ceilings that would apply only in the event of a conviction. Westkentuckystar.com reported that Ochoa-Avila faces up to a maximum of 30 years in prison; that Hernandez Romero faces up to a maximum 10 years; and that Lopez Gomez, Pastor-Gonzalez and Rodriguez-Gonzalez each face up to a maximum 2 years. KFVS12 reported only that, if convicted, Ochoa-Avila faces up to a maximum of 30 years in prison. Sentences, where cases end in conviction, are set by a judge and are frequently below the ceiling.
The cases remain at the charging stage. Neither outlet reported a plea, verdict or sentence for any of the ten men.
Aug 15, 2026, 2:25 a.m. ETFirst report
Federal Grand Juries in Western Kentucky Indict Men on Immigration and Firearms Charges
Federal grand juries in western Kentucky have returned indictments charging a group of men with immigration and firearms offenses, according to announcements reported on Aug. 14, 2026 by westkentuckystar.com and KFVS12. The case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Kentucky.
The scope of the announcement is described differently by the two outlets. Westkentuckystar.com reported that grand juries in Paducah and Bowling Green charged ten people with immigration violations, including illegal reentry after deportation, possessing firearms while unlawfully present in the United States, and use of a false passport. KFVS12 reported on five defendants indicted by a Paducah grand jury on immigration and other federal offenses. The charges listed across the reporting include illegal entry after deportation or removal, illegal reentry after deportation or removal, possessing a firearm as an illegal alien, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
The named defendants, as reported by the two outlets, are Juan Jose Ochoa-Avila, 45, a citizen of Honduras; Misael Hernandez Romero, 35, a citizen of Mexico; Errson Lopez Gomez, 39, a citizen of Guatemala; Candelario Pastor-Gonzalez, 31, a citizen of Guatemala; Mario Rodriguez-Gonzalez, 58, a citizen of Mexico; Noel Carbajal-Panfilo, 52, of Mexico; Nicholas Hernandez-Vargas, 48, of Mexico; Cesar Yoc-Coronado, 29, of Guatemala; Samuel Chavez-Nunez, 44, of Mexico; and German Neri-Ibanez, 36, of Mexico.
The government alleges that Ochoa-Avila purchased a 9-millimeter semiautomatic handgun in Graves County, Kentucky, according to westkentuckystar.com; KFVS12 reported the allegation as buying and carrying such a handgun between March and June 2026 in Graves County after prior convictions and deportations to Honduras. KFVS12 also reported the government's allegation that the other defendants were found in the United States after having been denied admission, excluded, deported and removed. The Mayfield Police Department is among the investigating agencies, according to KFVS12.
On potential penalties, the outlets differ in what they specified. KFVS12 reported that if convicted, Ochoa-Avila faces a maximum of 30 years in prison. Westkentuckystar.com reported a maximum of 30 years for Ochoa-Avila, a maximum of 10 years for Hernandez Romero, and maximums of two years each for Lopez Gomez, Pastor-Gonzalez and Rodriguez-Gonzalez. An indictment is an allegation only, and the matter remains at the charging stage. This is a developing story.
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- Version 115 Aug 2026, 06:53current
First published.
- Version 115 Aug 2026, 06:25current
First published.
- Version 115 Aug 2026, 06:55current
First published.
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