Illegal alien sentenced to 2 years in prison for unlawfully re-entering country twice

MONROE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a 25-year old Mexican national living in the Monroe, Louisiana, area has been sentenced to prison for federal immigration violations.

Eliezer Merino-Tetlactle pleaded guilty on March 6, 2019 to illegal reentry of a removed alien and was sentenced yesterday to 24 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty.

According to information presented in court, West Monroe police arrested Merino-Tetlactle on August 23, 2018 for carnal knowledge of a juvenile, computer aided solicitation of a minor, possession of marijuana and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.  His background check showed that he had been previously removed twice from the United States at the port of entry in Laredo, Texas on July 29, 2012 and September 12, 2012.  He later re-entered the United States on an unknown date.

United States Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations and the West Monroe Police Department investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Leon H. Whitten prosecuted the case.