Adan Zamudio-Escalante Gets 18 Months for Illegal Reentry

Adan Zamudio-Escalante, a 39-year-old Mexican national also known as Victor Giron, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison today for illegally reentering the United States—a crime he’s now committed three times. The ruling, delivered in Charleston, West Virginia, marks the latest chapter in a pattern of defiance against federal immigration law.

Zamudio-Escalante previously pleaded guilty to the charge of illegal reentry after removal, a felony under U.S. code. Court records show he was first convicted of the same crime on April 1, 2005, in Texas. Following that conviction, he was deported to Mexico—only to return unlawfully and face conviction again on January 6, 2010, in West Virginia. After a second removal, he reentered the U.S. a third time.

Homeland Security agents tracked Zamudio-Escalante down in Charleston on September 20, 2016. His presence in the country was unauthorized, triggering federal prosecution. He admitted to knowingly bypassing immigration enforcement after being formally removed on two separate occasions—a fact that significantly increased his sentencing exposure.

The investigation was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, underscoring the federal priority placed on repeat immigration offenders. Prosecutors argued that Zamudio-Escalante’s repeated violations posed a challenge to the integrity of U.S. border enforcement and warranted a stiff penalty.

Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes handled the prosecution, pushing for accountability under the law. U.S. District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the 18-month sentence, reflecting the seriousness of repeat illegal reentry as both a federal crime and a national security concern.

Zamudio-Escalante remains in federal custody and will face removal proceedings again upon completion of his sentence. His case highlights the federal government’s ongoing crackdown on individuals who repeatedly violate immigration orders and reenter the country illegally.