Five previously deported aliens arrested in Sabine Parish plead guilty to re-entering the U.S.

ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that four illegal aliens from Mexico and one from Guatemala pleaded guilty Tuesday to re-entering the United States after having been previously removed.

Jose Benjamin Duran-Tovar, 32, of Mexico; Ricardo Garcia-Herrera, 26, of Mexico; Adrian Valadez-Martinez, 27, of Mexico; Jorge Armando Venegas-Sanchez, 28, of Mexico; and Mario Orlando Lopez-Tzoy, 26, of Guatemala, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell to one count of illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien. According to the guilty pleas, Sabine Parish Sheriff’s deputies arrested the defendants who were all riding together on June 21, 2018 near Many, Louisiana.

After further investigation, law enforcement agents discovered that:

Duran-Tovar had been previously removed seven times. He was first arrested on June 8, 2009 in Beaumont, Texas, and removed to Mexico on June 9, 2009. After that, he was arrested six more times and removed to Mexico each time;

Garcia-Herrera had been previously removed twice. He was first arrested on July 19, 2011, near Hebbronville, Texas, and voluntarily returned to Mexico. He was arrested again on February 2, 2013 in Pike County, Mississippi, and later removed;

Valadez-Martinez was previously removed once before. He was arrested on September 7, 2015 near Carrizo Springs, Texas, and removed on September 8, 2015, at the Del Rio, Texas Port of Entry;

Venegas-Sanchez was previously removed once before. He was arrested on November 25, 2015 near Harlington, Texas, and was removed to Mexico on November 26, 2015; and

Lopez-Tzoy was previously removed once before. He was arrested and later removed on April 27, 2010. He re-entered the country on February 28, 2013, near Hidalgo, Texas.

The defendants were sentenced at the guilty plea hearing to time served and are to be deported.

United States Border Patrol and the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Ayo is prosecuting the case.