Jose Armando Villalobos, Preventing Removal, Louisiana 2020
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana – In a shocking case of defiance, a 49-year-old Salvadoran national was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison for preventing his removal from the United States. Jose Armando Villalobos, a citizen of El Salvador, was found guilty of violating Title 8, United States Code, Section 1253(a)(1)(C) by hampering his departure from the US after being ordered removed by a U.S. Immigration Court.
According to the indictment, Villalobos fled immigration officers as they tried to arrest him on July 25, 2019, while an order of removal was pending against him from a U.S. Immigration Court. This brazen act of defiance has left authorities stunned, and the swift sentencing is a clear message that such actions will not be tolerated.
The maximum penalty for this crime is four years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, a maximum term of supervised release of one year, and a mandatory $100 special assessment. Villalobos, however, will serve a significantly shorter sentence of 12 months in federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Peter Strasser praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security in investigating this matter. Assistant U. S. Attorney Spiro G. Latsis is in charge of the prosecution.
The case highlights the importance of upholding the rule of law and ensuring that individuals who attempt to evade removal from the country face consequences for their actions.
Villalobos' sentence serves as a warning to those who would attempt to circumvent the immigration process and highlights the need for robust enforcement of our nation's immigration laws.
The U.S. Attorney's Office will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those who attempt to evade removal from the country are held accountable for their actions.
Defendant's Information:
Defendant: Jose Armando Villalobos
Criminal Charge: Preventing or hampering his departure from the United States after being ordered removed by a U.S. Immigration Court
City and State: New Orleans, Louisiana
Date: April 30, 2020
Sentence: 12 months in federal prison
Dollar Amounts: Maximum fine of $250,000, mandatory $100 special assessment
Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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