Prosecutions Continue In Illegal Entry Cases Involving Those With Prior Criminal Records

MINNEAPOLIS -- In the District of Minnesota, court action continued this week in three separate cases that involve foreign nationals who entered the United States illegally after being deported subsequent to criminal convictions. In each case, the individual was charged with one count of illegal re-entry after removal.

In the first case, Hector Rios-Guzman, age 27, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court. He was indicted on July 16, 2013, and entered his plea before U.S. District Judge John R. Tunheim. In his plea agreement, Rios-Guzman, also known as Hector Rios, admitted that on May 15, 2013, authorities found him in the U.S. illegally after he had been previously deported to Mexico. His deportation followed a 2004 Hennepin County conviction for terroristic threats. On May 15, 2013, Rios-Guzman was arrested following a traffic stop in Bloomington. According to a law enforcement affidavit filed in the case, Rios-Guzman fled the scene on foot before he was arrested. Rios-Guzman also has a previous federal court conviction in the District of Minnesota for illegal re-entry.

For his crime, Rios-Guzman faces a potential maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, followed by deportation. Judge Tunheim will determine his sentence at a future hearing, yet to be scheduled.

This case is the result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (“ICE ERO”). It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Clifford B. Wardlaw.

In the second case, Alfredo Rios-Guzman, age 35, also pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court. He was indicted on June 18, 2013, and entered his plea before U.S. District Judge Donovan W. Frank in St. Paul. In his plea agreement, Rios-Guzman admitted that on May 7, 2013, authorities found him in the U.S. illegally after he had been previously deported to Mexico. His deportation followed a 2007 Hennepin County conviction for assault in the second degree involving a dangerous weapon. Rios-Guzman was identified as an alien with a criminal record and was arrested on May 17, 2013, after a traffic stop near his Bloomington residence.

For his crime, Rios-Guzman faces a potential maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, followed by deportation. Judge Frank will determine his sentence at a future hearing, yet to be scheduled. This case is the result of an investigation by ICE ERO. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Hudleston.

In the third case, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Michael J. Davis, on September 3, 2013, sentenced Noe Castro-Coj, age 41, to 30 months in federal prison, followed by deportation. Castro-Coj was indicted on March 11, 2013, and pleaded guilty on May 7, 2013. In his plea agreement, Castro-Coj admitted that on February 5, 2013, he was found in the U.S. after having been deported to Guatemala in 2003, after a 2000 Kansas conviction for kidnapping. On February 5, 2013, Castro-Coj was arrested in Steele County for violating an order for protection. On February 7, 2013, ICE was notified that he was in jail.

This case was the result of an investigation by the Steele County Sheriff’s Office and ICE ERO. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Dunne.