Jason R. Coody, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida
Rafael Sanchez-De La Rosa, a 51-year-old Mexican citizen, has been sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for illegally reentering the United States. The announcement was made by Michelle Spaven, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
"Enforcing immigration laws is a priority of the Department of Justice," stated Acting U.S. Attorney Spaven. "This sentence reflects the seriousness of committing crimes while being in our country illegally. The Northern District of Florida and our law enforcement partners are committed to keeping our communities safe."
Juan Agudelo, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Office (ERO) Miami Acting Field Office Director, highlighted the risks: "This case highlights the serious public safety risks posed by individuals who repeatedly violate our laws, both criminal and immigration. Despite being removed from the United States on multiple occasions, Mr. Sanchez-De La Rosa unlawfully re-entered the country and continued to endanger lives through repeated DUI offenses."
On May 5, 2024, Sanchez-De La Rosa was arrested by the Pensacola Police Department for his third DUI within ten years. He was caught speeding and admitted to consuming eight beers. Federal officers with ICE determined his illegal presence in the United States. He had been deported to Mexico in 2017 and 2018 but returned and was convicted of DUI in Escambia County three times, including two felony convictions. His first DUI offense resulted in serious injury to his passenger.
Sanchez-De La Rosa will face deportation proceedings once his sentence is served and will be on supervised release for three years thereafter. Violating this supervision could lead to further incarceration.
The investigation was conducted by ICE ERO Pensacola, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Callahan. This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative of the Department of Justice aimed at tackling illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of the 94 offices nationwide serving under the Attorney General's direction. Public court documents can be accessed online via the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.
