Edwin Joel Martinez-Cruz, Human Trafficking, Florida 2026

Pensacola, Florida - In a shocking turn of events, Edwin Joel Martinez-Cruz, 38, has pleaded guilty to illegal reentry into the United States, a crime that has left many in the community outraged.

According to court documents, Martinez-Cruz, also known as "Edwin Joel Ibarras-Ardon" and "Edwin Ibarra," departed the United States in 2022 after an Immigration Judge entered an Order of Removal. However, he illegally returned to the United States less than a year later and was convicted for human trafficking of a child.

The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant United States Attorney Brooke DiSalvo is prosecuting the case.

Martinez-Cruz's sentencing is scheduled for January 15, 2026, at 1:00 pm at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the government to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation's principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.

Defendant/Respondent: Edwin Joel Martinez-Cruz

Criminal Charges: Illegal reentry into the United States

City and State: Pensacola, Florida

Exact Date: 2022 (departure), 2026 (sentencing)

Sentence or Outcome: Up to 2 years in prison followed by removal from the United States

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl/pr/convicted-human-trafficker-nicaragua-pleads-guilty-illegally-reentering-country