MEXICAN MAN SENTENCED TO EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR ILLEGAL REENTRY OFFENSE

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Esau Matul-Hernandez, 37, of the country of Mexico, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for Illegal Reentry by a Removed Alien. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said, “This case is another shining example of the great success of the Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America, and fulfills the promise of President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to stop the flow of illegal immigration into our country.  This criminal alien not only repeatedly illegally entered our country, he endangered our communities by continuing to violate our laws while unlawfully present here. My office will aggressively prosecute these offenders to keep our communities safe.”

Court records reflect that on December 28, 2023, Matul-Hernandez was arrested by Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO). Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) encountered Matul-Hernandez at the Okaloosa County Jail the following day. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) quickly determined that Matul-Hernandez was an alien in the United States and a citizen of Mexico.  Matul-Hernandez had been previously deported from the United States in 2007 and twice in 2020.  Matul-Hernandez illegally reentered the United States thereafter.  As a result of his 2023 OCSO arrest, Matul-Hernandez was prosecuted by the State of Florida and convicted of Attempted Sexual Battery prior to being turned over to federal custody on this case.

“Illegal aliens who repeatedly and knowingly violate U.S. immigration laws blatantly undermine the integrity of our legal system and place an added burden on law enforcement and public safety resources,” said Homeland Security Investigations Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno. “The United States has clear and lawful pathways for entering and residing in this country, and those who choose to ignore those laws — especially after three deportations — will face serious consequences. HSI, working alongside our federal, state, and local partners, is committed to enforcing federal immigration laws and protecting our communities from those show blatant disrespect for the rule of law.”            

An ICE detainer has been lodged against Matul-Hernandez, and he will begin deportation proceedings after he serves his federal prison term.  Matul-Hernandez’s imprisonment will be followed by a one year term of supervised release, meaning if he returns to the United States during such timeframe, he will potentially face an additional period of incarceration related to violating his supervision.               

The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement Removal Operations. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer H. Callahan prosecuted this case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.