Mexican citizen pleads guilty to illegally reentering the United States

LAFAYETTE, La. – Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a man from Mexico pleaded guilty to reentering the United States after being deported.

Tomas Tavera-Morales, 31, of Mexico, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carol Whitehurst 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, the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office contacted Homeland Security Investigations on August 21, 2017 for assistance surveilling a possible illegal alien. Law enforcement agents later observed Tavera-Morales walking behind a residence near Third and Eastern avenues in Crowley. Agents contacted him, and he identified himself using a different name. After his arrest, he admitted that he lied about his name, and that he had been previously deported.

Tavera-Morales faces up to two years in prison, one year of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set sentencing for March 18, 2018.

Homeland Security Investigations and Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Ayo is prosecuting the case.