News and Press Releases
Prosecutions continue in illegal entry cases involving those with prior criminal records
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 4, 2012
MINNEAPOLIS – In the District of Minnesota, court action continued in federal cases
involving three Mexican nationals who entered the United States illegally after being deported
as criminals. Today in Minneapolis, two of those men were sentenced on one count of illegal
re-entry after removal, while in St. Paul a third man pleaded guilty to the same offense.
U.S. District Court Judge John R. Tunheim sentenced Jorge Ramires-Villa, age 22, to
33 months in prison. Ramires-Villa was indicted on September 8, 2011, and pleaded guilty on
November 23, 2011. In his plea agreement, Ramires-Villa admitted that on August 2, 2011, he
was found in the U.S. illegally after having been previously deported. His deportation followed
a 2010 Minnesota conviction for second-degree assault. The current federal indictment resulted
from an August 2 arrest by the Rice County Sheriff’s Office for no driver’s license. He was
then turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”).
This case was the result of an investigation by the Rice County Sheriff’s Office and
ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (“ICE ERO”).
In the second case, U.S. District Court Judge Joan N. Ericksen sentenced Macario
Rodriguez-Bravo, age 36, to 41 months. Rodriguez-Bravo was indicted on July 6, 2011, and
pleaded guilty on October 31, 2011. In his plea agreement, Rodriguez-Bravo admitted that on
May 30, 2011, he was found in the U.S. illegally after having been previously deported. His
deportation followed a 2001 Ramsey County conviction for third-degree criminal sexual
conduct. The current federal indictment resulted from a May 30 arrest in Minneapolis for no
driver’s license. He was in the Hennepin County Jail when he was identified as an illegal alien
with a criminal record. That identification was made though the U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement’s (“ICE”) Criminal Alien Program (“CAP”). The goal of that program is to locate
criminal aliens incarcerated in federal and state prisons, as well as in local jails, and prevent
them from being released into society by having them federally prosecuted for illegally reentering
the U.S. In some instances, federal prosecution will occur only after the individual is
prosecuted for the recent underlying offense.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Minneapolis Police Department and ICE
ERO. Both of the above-referenced cases were prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney
Colin P. Johnson. After the defendants complete their sentences, they will be deported.
In the third case, Jose Rosario Ahedo-Martinez, age 29, pleaded guilty to one count of
illegal entry after removal. He was indicted on February 6, 2012, and entered his plea before
U.S. District Court Judge Susan Richard Nelson.
In his plea agreement, Ahedo-Martinez admitted that on November 11, 2011, he was found
in the U.S. illegally after having been previously deported. His deportation followed a 2009
Kandiyohi County conviction and subsequent jail time for assault. He was recently arrested for
driving while intoxicated. He was in the Minnesota Correctional Facility in St. Cloud when he
was identified as an illegal alien via the CAP.
For his crime, Ahedo-Martinez faces a potential maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Judge Nelson will determine his sentence at a future hearing, yet to be scheduled. This case is
the result of an investigation by ICE ERO and the Willmar Police Department. It is being
prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Dunne.
To learn more about the CAP, visit www.ice.gov/criminal-alien-program/
