Heri Abelardo de Leon Garcia, a 32-year-old Mexican national, pled guilty on July 7 to one count of illegal reentry into the United States following his arrest earlier this year in Syracuse, New York. The announcement was made by First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Homeland Security Investigations Buffalo Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Patrone.
De Leon Garcia was previously arrested for entering the country illegally in 2012 and deported. He was found again in the United States during a traffic stop in February 2026 and subsequently arrested in May 2026.
“The previous administration’s failed border policies and weak approach to crime allowed countless illegal aliens to cross into our country,” said Sarcone. “The American dream is alive and well—so much so that this defendant broke our laws twice to come here. We are a nation of immigrants, but those seeking to enter must follow the legal pathways. This defendant chose not to and will now serve a term of imprisonment before facing deportation.”
Patrone said, “After previously being removed from the United States, this individual chose to disregard our nation’s immigration laws by illegally reentering the country. HSI remains steadfast in working with our federal, state, and local partners to investigate, prosecute, and remove those who violate our laws in order to protect the public and uphold the integrity of our immigration system.”
Senior District Judge Frederick J. Scullin sentenced de Leon Garcia to two months’ imprisonment; he will be subject to deportation following his sentence. Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case while Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Walter prosecuted it.
The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York is part of the United States Department of Justice with offices located in Albany, Binghamton, Plattsburgh, and Syracuse; it covers an area exceeding 30,000 square miles across 32 counties with about 3.4 million residents. Its staff includes approximately 50 Assistant United States Attorneys along with more than 50 support personnel; its responsibilities include prosecuting federal criminal cases as well as defending civil matters on behalf of the government while supporting community wellness through law enforcement initiatives and outreach programs designed to deter crime and foster public trust, according to the official website.