Repeat Offender Aburto-Feliciano Faces Federal Prison

KANSAS CITY, MO – Florencio Aburto-Feliciano, 46, a citizen of Mexico, admitted in federal court today to violating U.S. immigration law by unlawfully returning to this country after being previously deported. The plea comes amidst a renewed federal crackdown on illegal reentry, branded as ‘Operation Take Back America.’

Aburto-Feliciano pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to one count of unlawfully returning to the United States after removal. The charge carries a potential sentence of up to two years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. This isn’t a minor infraction; it’s a direct challenge to federal authority and a strain on already burdened resources.

The case unfolded earlier this year. On May 8, 2025, officers with the Greenwood, Missouri Police Department arrested Aburto-Feliciano on outstanding warrants related to traffic violations. Two days later, on May 10, 2025, Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers took custody of Aburto-Feliciano at the Jackson County, Missouri detention center, revealing his previously deported status.

Federal prosecutors, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Venneman, successfully demonstrated Aburto-Feliciano’s illegal reentry. The investigation was conducted by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) unit, highlighting the agency’s commitment to tracking and apprehending individuals who repeatedly violate immigration laws. He remains in custody pending his sentencing.

This prosecution is part of the larger ‘Operation Take Back America,’ a sweeping nationwide initiative spearheaded by the Department of Justice. The operation’s stated goals are ambitious: to combat illegal immigration, dismantle powerful cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and safeguard American communities from violent crime. It consolidates resources from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

Sentencing is scheduled for November 13, 2025, before Chief U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing outcome. The question remains: will two years be enough to deter others from making the same reckless decision? Or is this just another drop in the bucket of a broken system?