Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson has announced that Santiago Puente-Garcia, a 25-year-old Mexican national, has pled guilty to the charge of illegal reentry of a removed alien. The plea was entered on April 11, 2025, for violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
As outlined in the indictment, Puente-Garcia had been previously removed from the United States on February 4, 2022. He was later found within the Eastern District of Louisiana on October 29, 2024, without obtaining permission from the Attorney General of the United States or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to reenter.
The maximum penalties Puente-Garcia faces include up to two years in prison, a potential fine of $250,000, up to one year of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. The sentencing is to be conducted by U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk at a later date.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson commended the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations for their role in investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney Jon Maestri from the General Crimes Unit is leading the prosecution.
