A federal grand jury in El Paso, Texas, has returned indictments for defendants alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States through the Texas National Defense Area (NDA).
Among those indicted is Mexican national Leonel Sotelo-Santillan, who was arrested after allegedly entering the NDA illegally on May 2.
Sotelo-Santillan was first charged in a criminal complaint on May 8. He is a convicted felon with two 2015 convictions for domestic abuse battery and theft in Louisiana, as well as a felony conviction in June 2024 for illegal re-entry.
He has two prior removals, the last one being Dec. 28, 2024.
The 16 defendants are each indicted for one Title 8 United States Code (USC) 1326 felony charge and one 50 USC 797 misdemeanor charge.
If convicted, these individuals can face terms of imprisonment for up to 20 years if previously convicted of an aggravated felony, up to ten years if previously convicted of a felony and otherwise, and up to two years in federal prison.
The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the government to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related Federal Cases
- Ignacio Soriano-Ruiz, Illegal Reentry, Texas 2024 · Alabama
- Eduardo Aguilar-Arellano, Illegal Reentry, Texas 2023 · North Carolina
- Juan Manuel Ancira, Kidnapping-for-Ransom, Texas 2018 · Texas
- Juan Carlos Saucedo-Meza, Kidnapping, Texas 2018 · Texas
- Don Gaines, Kidnapping and Murder, Texas 2017 · Georgia
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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