Illegal alien from Mexico pleads guilty to illegally reentering the United States for 4th time

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that an illegal alien from Mexico pleaded guilty to reentering the United States after having been previously removed from the United States on three occasions.

Alberto Rodriguez-Perez, 39, of Mexico, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patrick Hanna to one count of illegal reentry of a previously deported alien. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell. According to the guilty plea, a deportation officer encountered Rodriguez-Perez while at the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center. The officer later discovered that Rodriguez-Perez was illegally in the United States having been previously deported in 2004, 2010 and 2013.

Rodriguez-Perez faces up to two years in prison, one year of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. If he is found to have been removed subsequent to a prior felony offense, or three or more misdemeanor offenses involving drugs, crimes against a person, or both, the defendant will face 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set sentencing for August 30, 2018.

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. McCoy is prosecuting the case.