An illegal immigrant who’s accused of assaulting a police officer, and who was previously convicted of human smuggling, has pleaded guilty to possessing a forged immigration document.
Jose Martinez-Lopez, a/k/a “Amalio Mendez-Molina,” 33, is a Guatemalan national who was unlawfully living in West Springfield.
He recently pleaded guilty in federal court to possessing a forged immigration document and unlawfully re-entering the U.S. after deportation.
Before these charges, he was arrested in Massachusetts for assault and battery on a police officer. He was also previously convicted in Arizona of human smuggling, and he was charged in Illinois with domestic battery/bodily harm.
Back on Aug. 28, 2009, Martinez-Lopez was deported to Guatemala after he illegally entered the U.S. at an unknown prior date, according to the feds.
Sometime after his removal, Martinez-Lopez unlawfully re-entered the U.S. and was then deported on May 10, 2011.
After his deportation, Martinez-Lopez re-entered the U.S. illegally for a third time. On Aug. 8, 2011, he was found guilty in Arizona of human smuggling conspiracy and sentenced to a one-year probationary period.
On Aug. 23, 2011, Martinez-Lopez was again removed from the U.S.
Sometime after his removal, Martinez-Lopez re-entered the U.S. illegally for a fourth time. On Nov. 25, 2022 and June 17, 2023, Martinez-Lopez was twice arrested in Illinois for domestic battery/bodily harm.
Both times, immigration authorities lodged detainers, but Martinez-Lopez was released from Illinois state court custody before any removal action could be taken.
Then earlier this year in March, he was arrested in West Springfield for assault and battery on a police officer, which led to his apprehension by immigration authorities.
At the time of the arrest, the feds said Martinez-Lopez possessed a forged permanent resident card in the name of “Amalio Mendez-Molina.”
On March 11, 2025, Martinez-Lopez admitted to immigration authorities that he was unlawfully present in the U.S., and he had re-entered the U.S. illegally in 2021.
The charge of possession of a forged immigration document can lead to a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
The charge of unlawful re-entry of a deported alien can lead to a sentence of up to two years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
He’s subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed.
