Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on June 26, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Yubert Yasiel Lopez-Lopez, 31, from Honduras. He is charged with being found in the United States on February 2, 2025, after previously being removed.
Lopez-Lopez pleaded not guilty to the charges during an arraignment on June 27, 2025. United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle ordered his detention while the case is pending.
Court records show that Lopez-Lopez was ordered removed from the U.S. twice before. In December 2014, he was removed following an order by an Immigration Judge in Houston after illegally crossing near Hidalgo, Texas. In June 2018, he was again removed to Honduras after pleading guilty to illegal entry and serving time in the Southern District of Texas court. This order prohibited him from entering or attempting to enter the U.S. for 20 years. Additionally, he was expelled twice in 2022 after crossing near Yuma, Arizona.
On February 2, 2025, a law enforcement officer recorded Lopez-Lopez’s presence on body camera footage where he confirmed his illegal status in the U.S., matching immigration records. At that time, he was also wanted in Honduras for weapons trafficking. On June 10, 2025, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with other agencies’ help arrested him in North Attleboro, Massachusetts.
The United States Attorney’s Office noted that an indictment contains only allegations and Lopez-Lopez is presumed innocent until proven guilty. If convicted he faces up to two years imprisonment; however actual sentencing will be determined by statutory guidelines and factors.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher praised efforts by ATF and Customs and Border Protection officers involved in this case.
Assistant United States Attorney Jason Turner is prosecuting while Assistant Federal Public Defender Charles Curlett represents Lopez-Lopez.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative using Department of Justice resources to combat illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators through streamlined efforts like OCDETFs and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
