Santos Evelio Nolazco, 48, a native of Honduras, is back in federal crosshairs after being hit with a federal charge for illegal reentry of a removed alien — a crime under Title 18, United States Code, Section 1326(a). Prosecutors in New Orleans unsealed a one-count indictment yesterday accusing Nolazco of sneaking back into the country less than three years after being formally deported.
According to court documents, Nolazco was officially removed from the United States on August 17, 2016. Despite that order, he was found back on American soil — specifically within the Eastern District of Louisiana — on March 28, 2019. At no point since his removal did he obtain legal permission from the U.S. Attorney General or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to return, making his presence here a federal felony.
The indictment lays bare the mechanics of the violation: reentry without authorization. The charge doesn’t hinge on what Nolazco did while in the country, but on the simple, hard fact that he wasn’t supposed to be here at all. Federal immigration law treats prior deportation as a bright-line barrier — cross it without approval, and the consequences are swift and severe.
If convicted, Santos Evelio Nolazco faces up to 2 years in federal prison, a fine of $250,000, one year of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment fee. While the maximum sentence may not rival those in violent crime cases, it underscores the federal government’s continued crackdown on immigration violations, particularly repeat entries by previously removed aliens.
U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser confirmed the charge and emphasized that an indictment is not a conviction. “The guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt,” Strasser stated, maintaining procedural integrity. Still, the case reflects ongoing coordination between federal prosecutors and immigration enforcement to track down and charge individuals who re-enter the U.S. illegally after deportation.
The investigation was handled by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. leading the prosecution. No trial date has been set. The case remains active in the Eastern District of Louisiana, where Nolazco awaits his day in court.
Related Federal Cases
- 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
- Cristian Cesre-Paz Indicted for Illegal Re-Entry · Louisiana
Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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