⏱ 2 min read
Luis Antonio Tejada-Santamaria, a Salvadoran national, has pleaded guilty to illegally reentering the United States after multiple previous removals. Tejada-Santamaria was arrested in Chesterfield County, Virginia, on November 2, 2024, for assault on law enforcement and obstruction. This was not his first run-in with the law, as he had previously been deported on January 13, 2016, and again on May 18, 2016, after being arrested for illegally reentering the country.
Tejada-Santamaria’s history of illegal reentry dates back to October 6, 2015, when he was first arrested for illegally entering the United States. Despite being deported, he continued to reenter the country, leading to his most recent arrest in 2024. He was convicted of obstruction in Chesterfield County court and now faces up to 2 years in prison for his latest offense.
The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and transnational crime. Tejada-Santamaria is scheduled to be sentenced on September 24, and his sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge after considering the US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The US Department of Justice and Homeland Security Investigations are handling the case, with Assistant US Attorneys Patrick Joseph McGorman and Angela Mastandrea prosecuting. The investigation highlights the ongoing efforts to address illegal immigration and protect communities from violent crime.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Violent Crime
- Defendant: Virginia
- Location: VA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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