Illegal Alien Sentenced for Unlawful Return After Removal

Gulfport, Miss. – Moises  Joaquin-Antonio, 33, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced on January 28, 2021 by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to time served (3 months and 18 days imprisonment) and one year of supervised release for unlawful reentry by an alien after removal, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca, and Michael J. Harrison, Acting Chief Patrol Agent of the Border Patrol’s New Orleans Sector.  Joaquin-Antonio will also face Homeland Security removal proceedings.  Joaquin-Antonio pled guilty on December 18, 2020 before Judge Ozerden.

On October 13, 2020, two U.S. Border Patrol Agents were assigned to targeted enforcement operations regarding aliens who had been officially removed from the United States and were suspected to have unlawfully returned to the local area.  While conducting surveillance on Joaquin-Antonio’s suspected address in Biloxi, an agent reported that he observed Joaquin-Antonio get into a vehicle and leave the residence.  The agent followed Joaquin-Antonio, and a second agent responded in a marked Border Patrol vehicle. 

A traffic stop was conducted and Joaquin-Antonio was placed under arrest.  He was transported to the Gulfport Border Patrol Station for further processing.  At the Border Patrol Station, Joaquin-Antonio’s fingerprints were scanned through Department of Homeland Security electronic computer database systems.  Joaquin-Antonio’s identity was confirmed through computer matches of his fingerprints with his earlier federal immigration records.  The databases also produced prior photographs and other record information. 

Joaquin-Antonio was positively identified as an alien who had been removed from the US. on four different occasions before returning and being arrested in South Mississippi.  Acting U.S. Attorney LaMarca praised the efforts of the U.S. Border Patrol and the Department of Homeland Security.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris was the prosecutor for the case.