Alvarez-Torres Sentenced for Illegal Reentry

ROANOKE, VIRGINIA – In a grim reminder of America’s immigration enforcement, Martin Alvarez-Torres, a 38-year-old citizen of Mexico, was handed a 30-month sentence today for illegal reentry into the United States. The Western District Court in Roanoke, Virginia, saw Alvarez-Torres sentenced by Acting United States Attorney Rick A. Mountcastle.

The defendant had been deported multiple times before his latest transgression. Evidence at prior hearings revealed that Alvarez-Torres was removed from the U.S. six times, with his most recent deportation occurring on April 17, 2014. Despite this, he returned without permission and remained at-large until his arrest in Roanoke in June 2016.

Assistant United States Attorney C. Patrick Hogeboom III and Special Assistant United States Attorney Kari Munro prosecuted the case for the United States, leading to Alvarez-Torres’s guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry. The investigation was spearheaded by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), showcasing the agency’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws.

Alvarez-Torres’s case is a stark example of the consequences faced by individuals who ignore federal orders of removal. It underscores the serious nature of illegal reentry, which carries significant penalties under U.S. law.

As the sentence was handed down, the Roanoke community received a message about the importance of adhering to legal immigration processes and the consequences of attempting to circumvent them. The sentencing of Alvarez-Torres serves as a cautionary tale for those who might be contemplating similar actions in the future.

The United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia stands firm in its commitment to upholding federal immigration laws, ensuring that those who violate these laws face justice. For Martin Alvarez-Torres, the sentence is a harsh reality check on his illegal activities within the United States.