Olvin Castillo-Cruz, a 34-year-old Honduran national, was sentenced today for the federal crime of illegal reentry of a removed alien, a charge stemming from his unauthorized return to the United States after prior deportation. The conviction marks the latest enforcement action in an ongoing crackdown on repeat immigration offenders across Louisiana’s Eastern District.
U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman handed down the sentence after Castillo-Cruz pleaded guilty to a one-count Indictment filed by federal prosecutors. The defendant was sentenced to time served and slapped with a $2,000 fine. No additional prison time was imposed, but the judgment clears the way for immediate custody transfer.
Castillo-Cruz will now be turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for administrative removal proceedings. Federal authorities confirmed he had been formally deported on January 19, 2011, and reentered the country at an unknown point thereafter, triggering the criminal charge.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, whose agents have intensified border and interior enforcement operations in recent months. Prosecutors relied on immigration records and biometric data to establish Castillo-Cruz’s prior removal and unlawful presence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Spiro G. Latsis handled the prosecution and secured the guilty plea without the need for trial. U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite, who oversees the Eastern District of Louisiana, commended the investigative work, calling it a clear example of interagency coordination in immigration enforcement.
Castillo-Cruz’s case underscores the federal government’s continued focus on criminal immigration violations, particularly among those with prior removal orders. His conviction falls under 8 U.S.C. § 1326, a statute frequently used to prosecute deported nationals found back inside U.S. borders without authorization.
Related Federal Cases
- Faustino Juarez-Castillo Sentenced for Illegal Re-Entry · Louisiana
- Orellana Faces Time for Illegal Re-Entry · Louisiana
- Jaime Mosqueda Charged with Illegal Re-Entry After Deportation · Pennsylvania
- Edwin Gamboa-Reyes, 25, Sentenced for Illegal Re-Entry · Louisiana
- Honduran National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Re-Entry · Louisiana
Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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