Mexican national arrested in New Iberia pleads guilty to reentering the United States illegally

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that a Mexican national pleaded guilty to charges that he reentered the United States illegally at least three times.

Felipe Escobar-Martinez, 44, of Mexico, pleaded guilty before by U.S. District Judge Richard T. Haik to one count of illegal reentry of a removed alien. According to the guilty plea, the defendant was arrested in New Iberia on September 22, 2015 on Romero Road. The defendant later admitted that he was in the United States illegally and had last been deported in March of 1999, December of 2000 and July of 2005. The 2005 conviction was an aggravated felony, narcotic drugs for sale, in Arizona, Maricopa County.

Escobar-Martinez faces 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date was not set.

United States Immigrations and Customs Enforcement conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominic A. Rossetti is prosecuting the case.