Six Repeat Offenders Face Federal Prison in Oklahoma

TULSA, Okla. – Six foreign nationals are off the streets and headed to federal prison after being sentenced this month for the crime of unlawfully re-entering the United States, a clear disregard for immigration law and a slap in the face to legal residents. Each defendant had been previously deported, yet brazenly returned to American soil, often committing further crimes in the process. U.S. District Judge Eric F. Melgren handed down sentences ranging from eight months to 57 months, followed by periods of supervised release.

Raul Luna-Gonzalez, 30, a Mexican national, received a 21-month sentence after pleading guilty in March to Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. His return wasn’t exactly subtle – he was arrested for Driving Under the Influence and found to be transporting an open container of alcohol. A fingerprint check revealed his deportation in April 2019. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Harris secured the conviction. This wasn’t a case of seeking a new life; it was a deliberate choice to flout the law and endanger the public.

The case of Yair de Jesus Trejo-Mendoza, 37, also of Mexico, is particularly troubling. Trejo-Mendoza, facing his second DUI, along with charges of Eluding and Obstruction, was found to have been previously deported not once, not twice, but three times – in 2008, 2015, and just last year, 2023. He’s racked up three convictions for drunk driving, plus resisting arrest and assault and battery on a police officer. The judge sentenced him to 18 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Greenough and Michele Hulgaard led the prosecution.

Benigno Villezcas Alcantar, 42, a Mexican national, admitted to re-entering the U.S. in 2023 after being deported in August 2015. His return coincided with an arrest for Conjoint Robbery. He received a 27-month sentence and two years of supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris handled the prosecution. Alcantar’s actions demonstrate a pattern of disregard for the law and a willingness to prey on others.

The most significant sentence was handed down to Julio Martinez-Perez, 36, a Mexican national, who received 57 months imprisonment. Martinez-Perez was previously deported in 2016 after serving a 24-month sentence for Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin. He then resurfaced in Tulsa County, pleading guilty to aggravated trafficking of fentanyl and heroin in 2022. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster successfully argued for a lengthy sentence, recognizing the severity of Martinez-Perez’s drug trafficking activities. The man clearly has no regard for the devastation his actions inflict upon our communities.

Rounding out the sentenced individuals were Santiago Lopez Gonzalez, 43, of Mexico (8 months imprisonment, 3 years supervised release, arrested for outstanding warrants related to drug possession, prosecuted by Mandy Mackenzie); and Alexander Enemias Ortiz-Gonzalez, 23, of Guatemala (8 months imprisonment, 1 year supervised release, arrested for DUI with an active warrant in Minnesota, also prosecuted by Augustus Forster). Court records show none of the defendants sought permission to legally re-enter the United States. These cases highlight a persistent problem – individuals repeatedly violating immigration laws and continuing to commit crimes, demanding a stronger response from federal authorities.

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