RUDY OTO NIEL AZANON-RODAS, age 51, a citizen of Guatemala, was hit with federal charges today for illegally reentering the United States after being formally deported more than three decades ago. The one-count Bill of Information, filed in federal court, accuses AZANON-RODAS of violating 8 U.S.C. § 1326 — a statute targeting previously removed aliens who return without authorization.
According to court documents, AZANON-RODAS was found inside the U.S. on or about December 29, 2016, despite having been officially removed on or about May 2, 1986. The gap between deportation and reappearance spans over 30 years, raising questions about how he evaded detection for so long. Federal authorities now aim to hold him accountable for breaching immigration law.
If convicted, AZANON-RODAS faces a maximum of two years behind bars, a fine of $250,000, and a mandatory $100 special assessment. In addition, he could be subjected to one year of supervised release following any prison term — a standard condition meant to monitor compliance with immigration and legal orders post-incarceration.
U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite, who announced the charge, emphasized that a Bill of Information is not a conviction — just the beginning of the legal process. “This is a charge,” Polite stated. “The defendant’s guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, along with the Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations Investigations. Their joint efforts led to the identification and charging of AZANON-RODAS, showcasing the ongoing federal push to track and prosecute individuals with prior removal orders.
Assistant United States Attorney Irene Gonzalez is leading the prosecution. The case underscores the federal government’s continued focus on immigration enforcement, particularly for those with long-standing deportation orders. For AZANON-RODAS, the road ahead runs through a federal courtroom — and possibly, prison.
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Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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