Two Mexican Nationals Plead Guilty to Illegally Reentering the U.S. after Multiple Deportations

CHARLESTON, S.C. —Two illegal aliens have pleaded guilty to illegally reentering the United States after deportation.  They are Alejandro Mejia Rios, who used the aliases Rigoberto Bonilla-Mejia, and Juan Carlos Espinoza-Bonilla, 45, an illegal alien residing in North Charleston, and Cesar Santana Salazar, who used the aliases Miguel Santana-Hernandez, and Cesar Santana, 43, an illegal alien residing in Florida.

Evidence from the investigation presented during the guilty plea showed that Mejia Rios is a citizen of Mexico who has been removed or deported from the United States six times, beginning in 2006 and continuing through 2019. He was convicted of illegal reentry and served prison sentences before being deported each time.

He illegally reentered and was arrested in Beaufort for driving under the influence and failure to stop for a blue light on Oct.1, 2023. He was released on bond before an immigration detainer could be lodged. He was again arrested, on March 18, 2024, for open container, driving without a license and driving under suspension in Jasper County. He was again released on bond before an immigration detainer could be lodged. On Feb.10, he was arrested for assault and battery 3rd degree in Jasper County.

Santana Salazar was arrested by City of Beaufort Police officers on Jan. 25, for driving without a license and driving under the influence. He has prior federal convictions for illegal reentry and has been removed from the United States six times between 2007 and 2021.

United States District Judge David C. Norton accepted the three guilty pleas and will sentence each defendant after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. Mejia Rios faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. He will be deported after serving his sentence. Santana Salazar faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000 and will also be deported after serving his sentence.

These cases were a part of Operation Take Back America, 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.

These cases were investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Kittrell is prosecuting the cases.

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MEDIA CONTACT:   Veronica Hill, Public Affairs Specialist, U.S. Attorney’s Office, veronica.hill@usdoj.gov, (803) 929-3000