Mexican Man Gets 18-Month Sentence for Illegal Reentry in Florida

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Esau Matul-Hernandez, 37, from Mexico, received a 18-month federal prison sentence for Illegal Reentry by a Removed Alien. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

Heekin emphasized the case’s significance as part of Operation Take Back America, echoing President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi’s commitment to curb illegal immigration. Matul-Hernandez’s repeated illegal entries were not just violations but threats to community safety, according to Heekin.

Court records show Matul-Hernandez was arrested by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office on December 28, 2023. He was an alien and had been deported twice in 2007 and once in 2020 before this illegal reentry.

Nicholas Ingegno, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Tallahassee, highlighted the burden illegal aliens place on law enforcement and public safety. He stressed the commitment to enforcing immigration laws and protecting communities from those who ignore the rule of law.

After serving his federal prison term, Matul-Hernandez will face deportation proceedings and a supervised release period of one year. His case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer H. Callahan and investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement Removal Operations.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide effort targeting illegal immigration and criminal organizations. For more information on the Northern District of Florida’s public court documents, visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.

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