A Guatemalan national who illegally reentered the United States was sentenced on July 14 to six months in federal prison. Rogelio Morales-Ramos, age 36, had been living in Sioux Center, Iowa, and pleaded guilty on May 21 to one count of illegal reentry.
At his plea hearing, Morales-Ramos admitted that he returned to the United States without permission after being previously removed on June 13, 2019. Law enforcement officers in Sioux County attempted to stop a car driven by Morales-Ramos for speeding on April 1. He initially failed to stop and later fled from officers after stopping the vehicle. Officers discovered an open alcohol bottle, additional alcohol containers, and a fictitious international driver’s license inside the car.
On April 4, law enforcement located Morales-Ramos at his home in Sioux Center. He again tried to flee before being apprehended. Officers found more fake documents at the residence. Authorities determined that Morales-Ramos is a citizen of Guatemala who had been deported from the United States three times prior.
United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand handed down the sentence in Sioux City. In addition to six months’ imprisonment, Morales-Ramos must serve a one-year term of supervised release following his prison term; there is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and investigated by the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office along with Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement Enforcement and Removal Operations.
The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa advocates for over 1.3 million residents across 52 counties spanning more than 25,120 square miles with a staff of about 60 employees including over 20 assistant U.S. attorneys and three high-intensity drug trafficking area attorneys; it prosecutes federal crimes such as this case as part of its role within the U.S Department of Justice, according to the official website.