Honduran Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Return by an Alien Removed After Felony Conviction

Gulfport, Miss.  – A Honduran national pleaded guilty to unlawful return by an alien removed after conviction for a felony, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Acting Special Agent in Charge Vernon Bison of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans.

According to court documents, Wilmer Josue Pavon-Hercules, 40, was arrested on September 12, 2021, following a probable cause traffic stop by a Picayune Police officer on Interstate 59 in Pearl River County.  Pavon-Hercules, the driver of the vehicle, did not have a driver’s license, and provided only a Honduran identification card. The officer was assisted on-site by a deputy of the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department.  While officials were attempting to arrest Pavon-Hercules for careless driving and driving under the influence (DUI), he attempted to flee law enforcement and then bit the police officer while being handcuffed.  Pavon-Hercules was taken into custody and transported to Pearl River County Jail.  Later, he escaped from the Pearl River County Jail and was recaptured by deputies. 

Picayune officials contacted Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) regarding the immigration status of Pavon-Hercules.  HSI determined through electronic database queries that Pavon-Hercules was a citizen of Honduras who was previously deported from the United States to Honduras. Immigration Records revealed that Pavon-Hercules was first encountered in the United States in 2012 and ordered deported by an Immigration Judge.  Pursuant to a lawful removal order against him, Pavon-Hercules was physically removed from the U.S. on August 23, 2012.  Thereafter, Pavon-Hercules was again encountered in the United States.  Having unlawfully returned to the U.S. after deportation or removal, Pavon-Hercules was convicted in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana in 2017, for reentry by alien following removal.  Later in 2017, Pavon-Hercules again was physically removed from the United States to his home nation of Honduras.

Pavon-Hercules also has been known by the following name variations and aliases:  Wimer Josue Pavon-Hercules, Wimer Josue Pavon Hercules, Wimer J. Pavon Hercules, Wimer Josue Hercules, Wilmer J. Pavon and Wilmer Pavon

Pavon-Hercules is scheduled to be sentenced on March 3, 2022 at 9:30 a.m.  He faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  After completing any sentence of incarceration, he also is subject to Department of Homeland Security proceedings to remove him from the United States.  A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Picayune Police Department and the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Office. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris is the prosecutor for the case.