BUFFALO, N.Y. – In a stark reminder of the nation’s immigration enforcement efforts, Ariel Benjamin Gregorio Santiago, 36, and Zeferino Marceliano Leon, 35, have both entered guilty pleas in federal court for illegal re-entry into the United States.
Santiago was sentenced to four months in prison, while Leon received time served and was turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Both men are Mexican nationals who previously had been removed from the U.S. multiple times.
The charges against Santiago stem from an incident on July 24, 2025, when Border Patrol agents encountered him and his compatriot, Zeferino Marceliano Leon. After being questioned, both men admitted to being citizens of Mexico, not the United States.
Further investigation revealed that Santiago had been removed from the U.S. in 2011 and again in 2019, while Leon was removed in 2011. Their latest illegal entry has put them back under federal scrutiny, as part of Operation Take Back America – a nationwide initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and protecting communities from violent crime.
Handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office is Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Smith, who emphasized that this case is just one of many in the ongoing battle against illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations. Santiago’s and Leon’s sentences are a result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Border Patrol under the direction of Patrol Agent-in-Charge David Banks.
As the legal system grapples with the complexities of immigration enforcement, these guilty pleas underscore the commitment to enforcing federal laws that protect American citizens and communities from those who seek to enter the country illegally.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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