Recidivist Felon Sentenced for Illegal Reentry into the United States

TUCSON, Ariz. – Hermelindo Velazquez-Rivera, 45, of Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced on April 18, 2023, by United States District Judge Raner C. Collins to a total of 90 months in prison. Velasquez-Rivera pleaded guilty to Reentry of a Removed Alien and admitted to violating conditions of supervised release.

In May 2022, Velazquez-Rivera illegally returned to the United States while on a term of supervised release, less than three months after he was deported. Velazquez-Rivera had been deported following a prior illegal reentry conviction. His criminal history includes two prior federal convictions for alien smuggling (one that resulted in a crash, and another that involved erratic driving), and a state felony conviction in North Carolina for a fatality he caused while driving under the influence. Velazquez-Rivera was apprehended by a Border Patrol agent near the border in southern Arizona. 

Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.

CASE NUMBERS:         22-CR-01352-RCC-MSA
                                         22-CR-50092-RCC-MSA
RELEASE NUMBER:    2023-065_Velazquez-Rivera

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