Timothy T. Duax U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa
A Sioux City man has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for illegally re-entering the United States as a felon. Erasmo Roberto Mendez-Lopez, 29, was sentenced following his guilty plea on September 4, 2024, to one count of illegal re-entry as a felon.
During his plea, Mendez-Lopez admitted to returning to the U.S. after being deported in 2019. His arrest on May 17, 2024, by Sioux City police stemmed from charges including operating while under the influence (OWI) second offense and eluding law enforcement. He also faced an active failure to appear warrant related to a prior OWI second offense charge in Woodbury County and four active warrants in Plymouth County for various offenses dating back to 2022.
Mendez-Lopez is a Guatemalan citizen who has been deported twice from the United States. He was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand in Sioux City to serve 24 months in prison followed by a three-year term of supervised release. Federal sentences do not allow for parole.
Currently, Mendez-Lopez remains in the custody of the United States Marshals until he is transferred to a federal prison.
