Belizean National Convicted of Illicit Re-Entry in Del Rio

A federal jury has convicted a Belizean national of entering the United States illegally, marking the latest crackdown on border security in the Lone Star State.

Francis Kerr, aka Francis Deon Flowers, 51, of Belmopan, Belize, was found guilty of re-entering the country without proper authorization after being formally deported through Houston on or about Oct. 1, 2009.

Kerr’s prior removal from the US was not his first brush with the law, however. According to trial evidence, he previously served a 17-year and four-month prison sentence after being convicted by a jury in Los Angeles, California for two counts of 2nd degree robbery, four counts of assault with a firearm, and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery.

Kerr’s most recent run-in with the law began on Aug. 22, 2023, when he was arrested near Eagle Pass, Texas. An investigation by U.S. Customs and Immigration Services and the U.S. Border Patrol led to his indictment and eventual conviction.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas announced the conviction, stating that Kerr’s actions demonstrate a blatant disregard for the law and the consequences of re-entering the country without authorization.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Markovits and Joshua Garland. Kerr’s sentencing is set to take place at a later date, where he faces up to 10 years in prison for violating federal immigration laws.