Honduran Man Admits Illegal Re-entry into United States

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Leonel Antonio Rodriguez Ayala, age 29, and a citizen of Honduras, pled guilty today to illegally re-entering the United States.

The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Thomas E. Feeley, Director of the Buffalo Field Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

As part of his guilty plea, Rodriguez Ayala admitted that he was removed from the United States to Honduras on October 3, 2013, and that he returned to the United States without permission following the 2013 removal. On October 24, 2017, ICE Officers arrested Rodriguez Ayala in Saratoga Springs, New York.   

Rodriguez Ayala faces up to 2 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 when he is sentenced by Senior United States Judge Lawrence E. Kahn on March 29, 2018.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.    

This case was investigated by ICE-ERO and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Edward P. Grogan.