Joshua S. Levy, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts
A Guatemalan man, Edilzar Morales-Barillas, has pleaded guilty in a Boston federal court to unlawfully reentering the United States after being deported. The 36-year-old admitted to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton has scheduled his sentencing for May 7, 2025. Morales-Barillas was initially charged on July 31, 2024.
Morales-Barillas had been previously deported from the United States on May 14, 2021. However, he reentered the country illegally at some point following his removal in May 2021. Immigration and Customs Enforcement became aware of his presence in the U.S. again on May 27, 2023, after he was arrested for a fourth offense related to operating under the influence of alcohol.
The charge carries potential penalties including up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine reaching $250,000. Upon completion of any sentence imposed by the court, Morales-Barillas will be subject to deportation proceedings once more. Sentences are determined by a federal district court judge according to U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes governing criminal cases.
The announcement regarding this case was made by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Todd M. Lyons, Field Office Director in Boston for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Sullivan from the Criminal Division is handling the prosecution.
