Aggravated Felon Illegally In The United States Sentenced To More Than 10 Years In Federal Prison

BATON ROUGE, LA – Acting United States Attorney Corey Amundson announced that yesterday U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles sentenced JUAN CARLOS RIGOBERTO-MARTINEZ, age 33, of Honduras, to serve 130 months in federal prison for illegally reentering the United States after removal.  The defendant’s extensive criminal history, including his status as an aggravated felon, contributed significantly to the lengthy sentence. 

Yesterday’s sentence stems from the defendant’s federal conviction on April 12, 2017, for illegally reentering the United States after removal.  Immigration authorities first removed the defendant from the United States on January 7, 2008, after he completed a state prison sentence in Georgia for burglary and theft. 

Several months later, on June 5, 2008, the U.S. Border Patrol found and arrested the defendant in Texas for illegally reentering the United States after removal.  The defendant plead guilty to the offense, resulting in a 77-month federal prison sentence from the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas.  On December 27, 2013, immigration authorities again removed the defendant from the United States following the completion of his prison term.

 Sometime during 2014 or 2015, the defendant again reentered our country illegally.  On August 20, 2015, local authorities arrested the defendant for three separate robberies in Baton Rouge.  He was detained pending trial on those charges.  While in custody, the U.S. Border Patrol learned of the defendant’s status as both an aggravated felon and an illegal alien previously removed from the United States, resulting in the instant charge. 

The defendant subsequently plead guilty to both the instant federal charge and to a state charge of simple robbery.  On August 21, 2017, he received a seven-year prison sentence for the state charge.  Yesterday, he received a 130-month prison sentence for the federal charge.  The federal and state prison sentences will run concurrently. 

Acting U.S. Attorney Amundson stated, “Keeping our communities safe from aggravated felons, like this defendant, is a top priority of the U.S. Department Justice generally and my office in particular.  This is especially true where the offender is illegally in this country and had been previously removed on multiple occasions following federal and state felony convictions.” 

This investigation was handled by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security—Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  This matter was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Brady Casey.