Elmer Navarro-Navarro, Illegal Reentry After Aggravated Felony, VA …

Elmer Navarro-Navarro, 37, a citizen of Honduras with a long history of deportation and return, was sentenced today to twelve months in federal prison for illegally reentering the United States after being previously removed due to an aggravated felony conviction. The sentencing, handed down in U.S. District Court in Roanoke, Virginia, marks the latest chapter in a repeated cycle of removal and return that federal prosecutors say undermines national security and immigration law.

Navarro-Navarro, who has been removed from the United States or voluntarily returned to Mexico at least five times in the past, came back into the country illegally and was apprehended following an arrest for malicious wounding in Roanoke City. That violent charge triggered an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which uncovered his prior removals and criminal history, leading to federal prosecution on the illegal reentry charge.

He previously pled guilty to one count of reentering the United States after deportation due to an aggravated felony, a crime that carries significant prison time under federal law. At today’s hearing, U.S. Attorney John P. Fishwick Jr. emphasized the seriousness of repeat immigration violations, stating, “We will continue to work with our partners to enforcement our immigration laws. Ensuring that those who have been justly removed from the United States do not return is paramount to keeping our country safe.”

The case was investigated by a coordinated effort between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Roanoke City Police Department, and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. Evidence presented by Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Patrick Hogeboom III and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kari Munro detailed Navarro-Navarro’s multiple prior removals and his unlawful return despite being barred from reentry.

Navarro-Navarro’s criminal history, including the recent state-level charge for malicious wounding, underscores the federal government’s focus on removing and preventing the return of non-citizens convicted of serious offenses. His latest prison term will be followed by potential deportation proceedings once his sentence is served.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys C. Patrick Hogeboom III and Kari Munro prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. The outcome reflects ongoing federal efforts to target repeat immigration offenders, particularly those with histories of violent crime, and enforce the consequences of illegal reentry across the Southwest border and beyond.