Mexican Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Return by an Alien Removed After Conviction for a Felony

Gulfport, Miss. - A Mexican national pleaded guilty to unlawful return of an alien deported or removed after conviction for a felony, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca, Jason E. Schneider, Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Border Patrol’s New Orleans Sector, and Vernon Bison, Acting Special Agent in Charge of  Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New Orleans.

According to court documents, Francisco Alvarado-Zacarias, 49, of Mexico, was arrested on October 12, 2021, on Interstate 10 in Jackson County.  The U.S. Border Patrol conducted a vehicle stop on a white Ford panel van with a Texas license plate based on a Border Patrol “Be On the Lookout” (BOLO) Alert.”  Three passengers fled the van on foot, including Alvarado-Zacarias.  He was apprehended after a short chase.

Records checks revealed that Francisco Alvarado-Zacarias was a citizen of Mexico who was previously ordered removed from the U.S. on multiple occasions including in 1992, 2006, 2007, and 2020.  Agents also confirmed through official records that Alvarado-Zacarias had been convicted in Wyoming for the felony offense of conspiracy to deliver methamphetamine. After his release from prison, Alvarado-Zacarias had been removed from the United States.

Alvarado-Zacarias is scheduled to be sentenced on April 7, 2022 at 11:00 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 could face Homeland Security proceedings to remove him from the United States.  A U.S. District Judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Border Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations. 

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