Honduran National Pleads Guilty to Illegally Reentering the United States 11 Times

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Honduran national pleaded guilty in federal court today to illegally reentering the United States for the eleventh time.

Jose Salazar-Aguilar, 33, a citizen of Honduras, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah W. Hays to illegally reentering the United States after having been deported for an aggravated felony. This is Salazar-Aguilar’s second conviction for this offense.

Salazar-Aguilar was arrested by Kansas City, Mo., police officers on Feb. 19, 2017, for driving while under the influence and resisting arrest. After he was released on bond, federal agents apprehended him during a traffic stop on Feb. 27, 2017.

Salazar-Aguilar was convicted in Oregon in 2003 of the felony offense of delivery of a controlled substance, after which he was deported. Salazar-Aguilar also has prior felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance, forgery and illegally reentering the United States after having been deported for an aggravated felony.

Salazar-Aguilar has been deported from the United States on 10 previous occasions. He was last removed on Aug. 8, 2013. 

Under federal statutes, Salazar-Aguilar is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberlee L. Moore. It was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).