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Mexican Man Guilty of Illegally Re-Entering U.S. in Iowa
A 49-year-old man who illegally re-entered the United States after having been convicted of a felony offense has pleaded guilty in federal court in Sioux City, Iowa.
Jesus Banuelos-Lepe, a citizen of Mexico but a resident of Maurice, Iowa, was convicted of one count of illegal re-entry as a felon.
According to the investigation, Banuelos-Lepe was arrested on July 20, 2025, in Sioux County, Iowa, for operating a vehicle while intoxicated. After being booked into the Sioux County Jail, he provided an alias to law enforcement. Further investigation revealed his true identity as Banuelos-Lepe, a citizen of Mexico who had been removed from the United States on five occasions and did not have permission to legally be in the country.
Banuelos-Lepe had previously been convicted of felony transportation of an illegal alien in April 2007 in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon.
At the plea hearing, Banuelos-Lepe admitted to re-entering the United States despite being a convicted felon.
He is currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service and will remain there pending sentencing. Banuelos-Lepe faces a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security as part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative to combat illegal immigration and protect communities from violent crime.
The case file number is 25-CR-04045.
Banuelos-Lepe’s sentencing will be set after a presentence report is prepared.
Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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