Brayan Adiel Gramajo-Reyes, a 31-year-old Guatemalan national, was arrested on federal immigration charges, according to U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis. A federal grand jury in Pocatello indicted Gramajo-Reyes on two counts of encouraging illegal entry of aliens into the United States, eight counts of using false statements for employment verification by attesting that social security numbers were genuine and that employees were authorized to work in the country while knowing this was false, and one count of unlawful employment of aliens.
Authorities allege that Gramajo-Reyes persuaded two unaccompanied minors from Guatemala to travel to the United States with promises of opportunity but then required them to perform long hours of physical labor after their arrival in Idaho. Additional charges relate to claims that he employed several unauthorized workers at his business.
Gramajo-Reyes is scheduled for an initial court appearance on March 5, 2026, before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Raymond E. Patricco at the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho. If convicted on counts one through ten, he could face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count. The eleventh count carries a potential sentence of up to six months in prison and a $3,000 fine for each unlawfully employed alien. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge following consideration of relevant guidelines and statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Davis stated: “I commend the work of the Department of Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Enforcement and Removal Operations), which led to the charges.”
He added: “An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
The case was investigated and prosecuted by Idaho’s Homeland Security Task Force as part of Operation Take Back America. According to information from the official website, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho enforces federal laws through prosecutions and civil litigation throughout Idaho, employing about 60 staff members including attorneys, paralegals, and administrative personnel.
Operation Take Back America is described as a nationwide initiative aiming to address illegal immigration, eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent crime perpetrators.
The jurisdiction of the U.S. Attorney’s Office extends across all areas within Idaho through its main office and branches (source). The office operates under federal authority handling both prosecution and civil matters (source).
