A Sioux City man was sentenced to federal prison for illegally re-entering the United States as a felon.
Erasmo Roberto Mendez-Lopez, 29, of Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 4, 2024, guilty plea to one count of illegal re-entry as a felon.
At the guilty plea, Mendez-Lopez admitted he illegally re-entered the United States after being deported as a felon in 2019.
On May 17, 2024, he was arrested by Sioux City police for operating while under the influence (OWI) 2nd offense, eluding, and an active failure to appear warrant for a prior OWI 2nd offense charge out of Woodbury County.
He also had 4 active warrants out of Plymouth County, Iowa for Eluding – speed over 25 over limit, speeding, open container, and improper use of lanes from 2022.
Mendez-Lopez is a citizen of Guatemala and has been removed from the United States on two separate occasions.
Mendez-Lopez was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand.
Mendez-Lopez was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment.
He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term.
There is no parole in the federal system.
Mendez-Lopez is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Fletcher and investigated by the Enforcement and Removal Office of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Bureau.
Court file information can be found at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR-04038.
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Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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