⏱ 3 min read
A convicted felon with a long history of crime, Luis Alberto Banda Acosta, 36, was driving a pickup truck in Bryan, Texas when authorities pulled him over on February 4, 2024. It was just the beginning of his downfall.
As a Mexican national with multiple felony convictions, including failure to identify, possession of a controlled substance, and driving while intoxicated, Banda Acosta had been previously removed from the United States on two occasions. But he returned, this time without authorization.
During a three-day trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Banda Acosta had been living freely in the US, working, traveling, and even shopping at a lingerie store. His defense team tried to convince the jury that he was involuntarily present in the country, claiming he was kidnapped and forced to swim across the border. But the jury didn’t buy it.
In less than three hours, the jury delivered a guilty verdict, rejecting Banda Acosta’s claims and the testimony of a defense expert. Now, the convicted felon faces up to two years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Violent Crime
- Defendant: Texas
- Location: TX
- Source: DOJ Press Release
