Guatemalan Man Sentenced for Illegal Reentry into U.S.

Juan Abel Belteton-Barrios, 46, a citizen of Guatemala, was sentenced to 14 months in federal prison for illegally reentering the United States, a crime he has committed repeatedly despite multiple deportations. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis, III, in Alexandria, Virginia, also includes three years of supervised release. Belteton-Barrios has now been caught and punished for sneaking back into the country at least four times since his initial deportation in 2008.

According to court documents, Belteton-Barrios first entered the U.S. in 1991 and applied for asylum in 1993. When his asylum request was denied in 1998, he was ordered to voluntarily leave the country. He ignored the directive and stayed, living under the radar until June 2008, when he was arrested on a felony charge of driving while intoxicated. After serving time, he was deported to Guatemala in October 2008—only to return seven months later, in May 2009.

That pattern repeated itself with relentless disregard for U.S. law. Belteton-Barrios remained undetected until May 2015, when U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested him again. He was deported a second time in September 2015. By December 2015—just three months later—he had crossed the border illegally a third time. He was caught immediately, deported, and then returned once more within a month. Each time, the cycle of illegal entry and removal continued.

In April 2016, Belteton-Barrios slipped back into the country for at least the fourth time. He managed to stay hidden for only a month before being apprehended in May 2016. This latest arrest led to federal prosecution. On August 5, he pleaded guilty to one count of illegal reentry after deportation, a felony under U.S. immigration law that carries stiff penalties, especially for repeat offenders.

“Illegal reentry into the United States is a serious offense,” said Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Unlawful reentry after deportation or removal is an offense with significant cost to law enforcement that erodes the lawful immigration process. It is my hope that this sentence will promote respect for the law, provide just punishment, and serve to deter similar criminal conduct.”

The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel E. Nonaka, with support from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, led by Special Agent in Charge Clark E. Settles. Court records, including Case No. 1:16-cr-139, are available through the Eastern District of Virginia’s federal court website and PACER. Belteton-Barrios now begins his 14-month sentence, a small price for a man who has flouted immigration law with brazen consistency.

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