Honduran National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Re-Entry of a Removed Alien

U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that MELVIN JOSUE AVELAR-CASTRO (“AVELAR”), age 34, a citizen of Honduras, pled guilty today to one-count of illegal re-entry of a removed alien.

According to court documents, AVELAR was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) agents at a residence in Metairie, Louisiana.  The arrest followed an investigation by ICE agents which determined that AVELAR was illegally present in the United States.  AVELAR had been convicted of re-entry of a removed alien on two previous occasions.

AVELAR faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years on the illegal re-entry charge, a fine of $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. U.S. District Judge Martin L.C. Feldman scheduled sentencing on March 18, 2015.

U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson is in charge of the prosecution.