A truck driver from El Salvador was recently arrested and accused of lying about his citizenship status, according to federal authorities.

Oscar David Contreras Guzman, 49, has been charged with making a false statement, according to a June 4 news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York.

Officials say that on May 17, 2025, Guzman was operating a commercial vehicle with Maryland plates at the Lewiston Bridge Port of Entry, located in Niagara County, New York.

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office:

“When asked for identification during primary inspection, Guzman presented a Maryland State Driver’s License. He also claimed to be a citizen of Mexico and indicated that he had been refused entry into Canada, after making a wrong turn onto the Lewiston Bridge, on his way to Michigan. Guzman was referred to secondary to determine his immigration status in the United States. During secondary inspection, Guzman again stated that he was a citizen of Mexico and had in his possession a Mexican Consular ID card. A fingerprint check determined that he was in fact Oscar David Contreras Guzman, a citizen of El Salvador, and was previously removed from the United States in April 2007.“

If convicted, Guzman faces  a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The investigation is taking place as part of “Operation Take Back America,” a Department of Justice effort to fight illegal immigration and cartels.