Sebastian Saquinga-Topanta, a national of Ecuador, has pleaded guilty to charges related to illegal reentry into the United States and failing to notify authorities of a change of address. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.
Court documents reveal that Saquinga-Topanta, 31, entered the United States without legal immigration status. He was discovered by U.S. Border Patrol on September 1, 2022, and subsequently removed from the country as an undocumented alien. Despite being returned to Ecuador, he unlawfully reentered the United States in December 2022.
In June 2023, Saquinga-Topanta was apprehended for driving while intoxicated. He faced arrest twice on warrants related to this DUI case in December 2023 and January 2024. Following his arrest, law enforcement questioned him about his residence but found he no longer lived at the provided address. Between January and May of 2024, he failed to register his change of address with the Attorney General. Furthermore, he did not receive approval from either the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply or remain in the United States.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at addressing illegal immigration and dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Melinda A. Williams handled the prosecution.
