Armando Navarrete-Dominguez, Illegal Re-Entry, NY 2024

Armando Navarrete-Dominguez, 29, a Mexican national and convicted sex offender, was sentenced to time served — one year — for illegally re-entering the United States, federal prosecutors announced today in Buffalo, N.Y. The conviction marks a disturbing return by a man already found guilty of sexual exploitation of a minor.

U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. confirmed the sentencing carried out by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. Navarrete-Dominguez had been previously deported in 2009 following felony convictions in North Carolina for sexual exploitation of a minor and breaking and entering. Despite that, he managed to cross back into the country undetected — until now.

The arrest came on February 15, 2017, during a routine vehicle and traffic stop on Grand Island, NY. Law enforcement ran a records check and quickly discovered Navarrete-Dominguez was not only in the country illegally but was a known predator with a violent criminal past. He was taken into custody immediately.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Lamarque, who prosecuted the case, emphasized that illegal re-entry by deported felons — especially those with aggravated felony convictions — is a top priority for federal authorities. Navarrete-Dominguez’s prior conviction for exploiting a minor placed him in the most severe category of deportable offenses.

The investigation leading to his arrest was conducted by U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent-in-Charge Steven Oldman. Officials say the case underscores ongoing challenges in tracking deported criminals who attempt to slip back across U.S. borders.

With his sentence now complete, Navarrete-Dominguez faces imminent deportation proceedings. Federal authorities stress that individuals like him, with a history of violent and sexual crimes, will be met with swift prosecution upon re-entry. This case serves as a grim reminder: past predators don’t get second chances on American soil.