Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Rafael Cruz-Hernandez, a 39-year-old citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to eight months in prison for illegally reentering the United States after prior removal. The sentencing was delivered by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley in Madison, Wisconsin.
Cruz-Hernandez had plead guilty to the charge on February 25, 2025. His legal trouble began anew on December 23, 2023, when he was arrested for a domestic abuse offense in Monroe County, Wisconsin. This incident marked his second arrest for a domestic offense. His first removal from the United States occurred in 2010, following a conviction for third-degree sexual assault.
In reaching the eight-month sentence, Judge Conley evaluated Cruz-Hernandez’s criminal history and recent domestic issues, while also considering his steady employment and support from family and friends. Judge Conley noted the risk of Cruz-Hernandez unlawfully returning to the U.S. and warned that any future reentry could result in increased penalties.
The investigation leading to the charge against Cruz-Hernandez was carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Sparta Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lennon.
