Guatemalan Man Sentenced for Illegal Reentry into the United States

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Juan Abel Belteton-Barrios, 46, a citizen of Guatemala, was sentenced today to 14 months in prison for illegal reentry into the United States. Belteton-Barrios was also sentenced to three years of supervised release.

“Illegal reentry into the United States is a serious offense,” said Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.  “Unlawful reentry after deportation or removal is an offense with significant cost to law enforcement that erodes the lawful immigration process.  It is my hope that this sentence will promote respect for the law, provide just punishment, and serve to deter similar criminal conduct.”

Belteton-Barrios pleaded guilty on August 5.  According to court documents, Belteton-Barrios first entered the United States in 1991 and applied for asylum in 1993. After being denied asylum in 1998, Belteton-Barrios was ordered to voluntarily deport, however, he failed to follow the court order and remained in the United States undetected until his arrest for felony driving while intoxicated in June 2008. After serving a prison sentence, Belteton-Barrios was deported back to Guatemala in October 2008.  He returned to the United States approximately seven months later, in May 2009, and remained undetected until his arrest by U.S. Border Patrol agents in May 2015. Belteton-Barrios was again deported back to Guatemala in September 2015. Three months later, in December 2015, Belteton-Barrios entered the United States illegally for the third time. He was immediately detected at the border and deported. Approximately one month later, he again returned to the United States and was detected by Border Patrol agents and immediately returned. In April 2016, Belteton-Barrios again illegally re-entered the United States and remained undetected until his arrest in May 2016.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Clark E. Settles, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis, III.  Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel E. Nonaka prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:16-cr-139.