Nicholas J. Ganjei United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas
A Mexican national, Juan Humberto Lara Molina, has been sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for illegally reentering the United States. U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced the sentencing of the 44-year-old, who has a history of felony convictions and prior removals from the country.
Molina pleaded guilty on February 13. U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos imposed the sentence, noting Molina's extensive criminal history and warning that repeated offenses could lead to longer imprisonment. Molina is expected to face removal proceedings again after serving his sentence.
His criminal record includes previous illegal reentry convictions in 2007 and 2015, as well as drug and weapons charges in Indiana and Illinois. He has been removed from the United States multiple times, with the most recent removal occurring in November 2021.
Law enforcement apprehended Molina at the Falfurrias Border Patrol checkpoint on December 12, 2024. He was among seven individuals being transported by human smugglers in a tractor-trailer heading north.
The investigation was conducted by Border Patrol, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Young Min C. Burkett prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at combating illegal immigration and transnational crime through coordinated efforts with various task forces.
