A 49-year-old man from El Trapiche, Guerrero, Mexico, has pleaded guilty to illegally reentering the United States. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Angel Zavaleta-Rodriguez had previously been removed from the United States in August 2000 and returned unlawfully. Authorities deported him again on November 13, 2023, but he was found once more on March 25 in Harlingen while residing illegally in Sebastian.
U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera accepted Zavaleta-Rodriguez's plea and scheduled sentencing for September 7. He faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Zavaleta-Rodriguez remains in custody until his sentencing hearing.
The investigation was conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations along with the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Coronado is handling the prosecution.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative aiming to address illegal immigration and combat cartels and transnational criminal organizations. The operation leverages resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods to protect communities from violent crime perpetrators.
