Two men who illegally re-entered the United States from Mexico and Guatemala were sentenced on December 6, 2011, to federal prison.
Alfredo Guerrero-Chavez, age 34, from Mexico, and Cristobal Velasquez-Lopez, age 33, from Guatemala, received the prison terms after September 19, 2011, guilty pleas to illegal re-entry as a felon.
At his guilty plea, Guerrero-Chavez admitted he was deported from the United States on July 22, 2000. Geurrero-Chavez came into Homeland Security Investigations’ (HSI) custody on August 4, 2011, after his arrest for driving while intoxicated and possession of marijuana in Woodbury County. Guerrero-Chavez was previously convicted on May 14, 2000, in Dakota County, Nebraska District Court of possession of a controlled substance.
At his guilty plea, Velasquez-Lopez admitted he was deported from the United States on January 22, 2008. Velasquez-Lopez came into Homeland Security Investigations’ (HSI) custody on August 1, 2011, after his arrest for public intoxication in Woodbury County. Velasquez-Lopez was previously convicted on November 19, 2007, in the Sussex County, Superior Court of Delaware for maintaining a motor vehicle for keeping controlled substances.
Both men were sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Donald E. O’Brien. Guerrero-Chavez was sentenced to 8 months’ imprisonment, and he must also serve a 1 year term of supervised release after the prison term.
Velasquez-Lopez was sentenced to 6 months’ imprisonment, and he must also serve a 1 year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The men are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they can be transported to a federal prison.
The cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Fletcher and investigated by HSI and the Enforcement and Removal Office of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Bureau.
