Illegal Alien Sentenced to Almost Three Years for Returning to North Carolina

WILMINGTON, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced a Mexican Illegal alien to nearly 3 years in prison for illegally reentering the United States after a felony conviction.  On January 23, 2025, Adelfo Bahena-Rojel pleaded guilty to the crimes.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, Bahena-Rojel entered the United States illegally from Mexico in the late 1990s. Over the past twenty-five years, Bahena-Rojel has amassed a long history of run-ins with local law enforcement ICE which deported him three times.

“This Mexican illegal alien rapes young girls and repeatedly sneaks back into North Carolina.  We don’t need illegal alien child rapists in North Carolina.  He better stay this time.  Thank you to the law enforcement officers who found him, arrested him, and will deport him as soon as his prison term ends.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle.

In 2023, after Bahena-Rojel illegally entered the United States for a fourth time, he engaged in sexual acts with a child under 13 years old, and state prosecutors in Harnett County convicted him for these crimes.  Based on that conviction, the United States Attorney’s Office prosecuted Bahena-Rojel for Illegal Reentry of a Previously Removed Alien. After he served his prison sentences, ICE removed Bahena-Rojel to Mexico again in August 2024. By November 2024, law enforcement determined Bahena-Rojel had returned to North Carolina for a fifth time.  They arrested him.

Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Harnett County Sheriff’s Office, United States Marshals Service, and ICE investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Logan Liles prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-CR-31-M-RJ.