Mexican Citizen Convicted Of Illegally Re-Entering The United States

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On July 9, 2013, a federal jury in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, at Knoxville, found Rigoberto Francisco-Reyes, a national and citizen of Mexico, guilty of being previously deported and re-entering the United States without permission. After the jury’s verdict was announced, Francisco-Reyes was remanded into federal custody by the Honorable Thomas Varlan, U.S. District Judge. Sentencing has been set for 2:00 p.m., Dec. 4, 2013.

Evidence at trial showed that Francisco-Reyes had been previously deported from the United States five times, and that he had several prior felony convictions for immigration offenses.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in collaboration with the White Pine Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa M. Kirby represented the United States.

“This case is a prime example of ICE identifying and detaining a violent criminal and egregious immigration law violator who poses the greatest threat to public safety,” said Scott L. Sutterfield, acting field office director of ERO New Orleans. Sutterfield oversees ERO activities in Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi.