A federal grand jury in Jackson, Tennessee, has indicted a man from Gibson County for failing to comply with sex offender registry requirements and for illegally reentering the United States. Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren announced the indictment of Jose Alfredo Melendez-Hernandez, aged 52. Melendez-Hernandez was apprehended on February 12, 2025, in Trenton after authorities discovered he had not registered as a sex offender, a requirement under federal law due to his prior conviction of sexual battery in Oklahoma. Further investigation revealed that Melendez-Hernandez had been deported in 2009 and had returned to the U.S. without obtaining permission from the Secretary of Homeland Security.
Melendez-Hernandez faces charges of failing to register as a sex offender, under 18 U.S.C. § 2250(a), and illegal reentry, under 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a) and (b)(2). The case is currently pending before United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson in Jackson, TN. If convicted, the sentence will be determined by the judge in accordance with U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutory factors, as there is no parole in the federal system.
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The investigation was conducted by the United States Marshals Service and the United States Department of Homeland Security. It is important to note that the charges and allegations are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty through due process. If convicted, the court will consider various factors, including any prior criminal record, when determining the sentence.
Acting U.S. Attorney Fondren expressed gratitude to Assistant United States Attorney Immanuel Chioco for prosecuting the case and acknowledged the law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation. For more information, the Media Relations Team can be contacted at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Updates from the U.S. Attorney’s Office can be followed on their Facebook or X.
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Knoxville Gang Leader Sentenced for Drug Crimes
Bryan Cornelius, a Knoxville resident and member of the Gangster Disciples gang, received a 45-year prison sentence for drug trafficking, firearms offenses, and money laundering, following his conviction in a 2022 federal trial. Evidence included communications, searches, and seizures linking him to narcotics distribution and violent crimes. The investigation was carried out by a joint task force led by the FBI and local agencies, under the Department of Justice’s initiatives to combat high-level drug trafficking and violent crime. Cornelius will have five years of supervised release after serving his sentence.