Criminal Alien Sent to Prison for Re-Entering the United States…Again

LAREDO, Texas – A Mexican man has been sent to federal prison for illegally re-entering the United States after he was deported, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Teodolfo Vega-Hernandez, 47, pleaded guilty to illegal re-entry after deportation March 29, 2018.

Today, District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo sentenced Vega-Hernandez, of Tultitlan, Estado de Mexico, Mexico, to 63 months in prison. On supervised release following his previous conviction of illegal re-entry, Vega-Hernandez received an additional 12-month sentence, three of which to be served consecutively for a total 66-month-term of imprisonment.

This marks the fourth time Vega-Hernandez has been convicted of illegally re-entering the United States following deportation. He was previously convicted Aug. 7, 2007, Nov.  18, 2009, and June 12, 2013. The court noted he was also previously convicted of a felony - driving while intoxicated - in Austin on April 14, 2005, following multiple convictions that spanned many years of driving while intoxicated, public intoxication and assault. He was ordered to be deported following those sentences, but continued to illegally re-enter the United States. After his third conviction June 12, 2013, he served 36 months in prison and was again ordered deported to Mexico Aug. 21, 2017.

However, on Jan. 12, 2018, Border Patrol (BP) found Vega-Hernandez again illegally present in the United States near Hebbronville. He had no legal documents to enter, travel through or remain in the United States.

He is again expected to face deportation proceedings following his release from prison.

Customs and Border Protection and BP conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa M. Ezra prosecuted the case.