Jason R. Coody, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida
Griselda Vazquez-Duran, a 46-year-old Mexican national, has been sentenced to six months in prison for illegal reentry into the United States. The sentencing was announced by John P. Heekin, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Court records indicate that Vazquez-Duran was apprehended in Leon County, Florida, after being stopped by the Florida Highway Patrol for driving without a valid license. During her booking at Leon County Jail, fingerprint analysis revealed her identity as a previously deported individual who had not obtained permission to reenter the U.S. since her removal in June 2013.
U.S. Attorney Heekin emphasized the priority placed on enforcing immigration laws under President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi's administration: “President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi have made enforcing our nation’s immigration laws a top priority, and my office will continue to aggressively pursue these cases to deter future illegal reentries."
Homeland Security Investigations Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno commented on the significance of this sentence: “This sentence underscores the critical importance of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement important role in upholding the rule of law, maintaining the integrity of our legal system, and protecting the fabric of American society.”
The conviction followed a joint investigation conducted by the Florida Highway Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations under the Department of Homeland Security. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Harley Ferguson and Justin M. Keen.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative aimed at addressing illegal immigration and dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators.
