Cristian Cesre-Paz Indicted for Illegal Re-Entry

Honduran national Cristian Cesre-Paz, 31, is back in federal crosshairs — charged with illegally reentering the United States after being deported over 15 years ago. The one-count Indictment, handed down today, accuses Cesre-Paz of violating Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a) & (b)(2), a felony carrying serious federal time.

According to court documents, Cesre-Paz crossed back into the U.S. after being officially removed on December 27, 2006. That prior deportation triggers enhanced penalties under federal immigration law, turning what might be a misdemeanor for others into a high-stakes felony charge with a maximum prison sentence of ten years.

If convicted, Cesre-Paz faces not only a decade behind bars but also a maximum fine of $250,000, a mandatory $100 special assessment, and up to three years of supervised release following any prison term. The stakes couldn’t be higher — this is not a slap on the wrist, but a full-on federal prosecution.

U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite, Eastern District of Louisiana, confirmed the Indictment was returned by a federal grand jury. Polite emphasized that while the charges are serious, an Indictment is not a conviction — the government must still prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in court.

The investigation was led by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, whose agents have been stepping up enforcement on prior deportees who attempt to reenter the country illegally. Polite credited DHS with precise, persistent work that led to the case being brought forward.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Spiro G. Latsis is prosecuting the case. For now, Cesre-Paz remains in federal custody as the wheels of justice begin to turn. One thing is certain: crossing the border after deportation is no minor offense — and the feds are treating this like the crime it’s charged as.