Mexican National Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the United States After Being Convicted of Drug Trafficking

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican National illegally residing in Lee’s Summit, Mo., was sentenced in federal court yesterday for Illegal Re-entry by an Alien Previously Convicted of an Aggravated Felony.

Severo De La Torre-Sanchez, 61, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian Wimes to three years and six months in federal prison without parole followed by three years of supervised release.

On Aug. 7, 2024, De La Torre-Sanchez was found at a Lee’s Summit restaurant when officers were attempting to serve him with an ex-parte order of protection. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents identified De La Torre-Sanchez was illegally in the United States after having been removed on two prior occasions in 2020 and 2022. He was removed in 2020 after serving a 17 year federal sentence for drug trafficking in the Southern District of Georgia.

De La Torre-Sanchez was also previously convicted for Attempted Re-entry of a Removed Alien in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California in 2022.

This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda K. Hanson. It was investigated by Department of Homeland Security Customs and Immigration Enforcement.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.