U.S. Department
of Justice
Press Release
Mexican National Sentenced For Illegal Re-entry
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Louisiana
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ActingUnited States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that SANTIAGO PUENTE-GARCIA (“PUENTE-GARCIA”), age 26, a native of Mexico, was sentenced on April 30, 2025 after previously pleading guilty to illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
United States District Judge Lance M. Africk sentenced PUENTE-GARCIAto an imprisonment term of time served , followed by one (1) year of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
According to court records, PUENTE-GARCIA was previously removed from the United States on February 4, 2022. He was later found in the Eastern District of Louisiana on October 29, 2024.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jon Maestri of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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Contact
Shane M. Jones
Public Information Officer
United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Louisiana
United States Department of Justice
Updated May 5, 2025
Topic
Immigration
Component