Mexican National Sentenced for Immigration Crimes

RICHMOND, Va. – A Mexican national who has illegally entered the United States on at least four occasions and has over a dozen convictions, including assault on a child, was sentenced today to eight years in prison.

Victor Santos-Ochoa, 45, was convicted of 17 misdemeanor violations in California, Georgia and Virginia between 1992 and 2007, including repeated immigration violations and state criminal convictions. He has used approximately 20 different aliases and five different dates of birth.

This is not Santos-Ochoa’s first run-in with the law. In 24 years in the United States, he has been convicted of 17 crimes, according to G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to prioritizing criminal immigration enforcement,” Terwilliger said. “Especially those like Mr. Santos-Ochoa, who enter this country illegally and then commit further crimes, will be found, prosecuted, held accountable, and removed. This is an issue of public safety and national security, and one that we take very seriously.”

Santos-Ochoa was indicted and pleaded guilty to illegally reentering the United States after having been removed following conviction for an aggravated felony. He will be removed from the United States immediately following the completion of his prison sentence.

Assistant U.S. Attorney S. David Schiller prosecuted the case, which was announced after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson.

The case is a stark reminder of the importance of immigration reform and the need for stricter penalties for those who repeatedly commit crimes in this country.