ALBANY, NEW YORK — Juan David Monzon Tejada, 29, a citizen of El Salvador, was sentenced today to time served — 80 days in jail — for the federal crime of illegally re-entering the United States after deportation. The charge carries serious penalties, but prosecutors and the court agreed on a shortened sentence based on the circumstances of his arrest and prior removal.
The sentencing, announced by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Thomas E. Feeley, Director of the Buffalo Field Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), marks the latest enforcement action in a broader crackdown on repeat immigration violators in upstate New York.
Monzon Tejada admitted in his guilty plea that he was formally removed from the United States and returned to El Salvador on September 22, 2015. Despite that order, he re-entered the country illegally and was found living in Glenville, New York, where he was apprehended by an ICE officer on November 19, 2017.
His return to U.S. soil without authorization triggered immediate federal charges. Illegal re-entry after deportation is a felony under U.S. immigration law, especially when the individual has previously been formally removed. Monzon Tejada did not contest the charge, opting instead for a swift resolution through a plea agreement.
Following sentencing, Monzon Tejada was remanded into the custody of the Department of Homeland Security to face removal proceedings once again. ICE-ERO agents will oversee his deportation, aiming to ensure he does not re-enter the country unlawfully a second time.
The case was investigated by ICE-ERO and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward P. Grogan. Federal authorities emphasized that while the sentence was time served, the priority remains enforcing immigration law and holding repeat offenders accountable, particularly in regions where immigration violations intersect with broader criminal activity.
RELATED: Arias and Cortez-Zelaya Get Life for Ice Ring Lead
RELATED: El Salvadoran Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry After Deportation
Related Federal Cases
- Jose Manuel Salazar Estrada Arrested for Illegal Re-Entry · New York
- Jose Manuel Salazar Estrada Pleads Guilty to Illegal Re-Entry · New York
- Maria Martinez Admits Illegal Re-entry After Cocaine Conviction · Ohio
- Erik Lozano-Arratia Sentenced for Illegal Re-Entry · New York
- Santiago Ordonez Felipe Sentenced for Illegal Re-entry · New York
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Organized CrimeOrganized CrimeOrganized CrimeOrganized Crime