Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that Dery Joncarlos Zelaya-Zelaya, also known as "Dery Zelaya," a 28-year-old native of Honduras, has pleaded guilty to illegal re-entry of a removed alien. This plea was entered on July 1, 2025, and is in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
Court documents reveal that Zelaya-Zelaya had been previously removed from the United States on May 13, 2022, and December 4, 2019. He did not have permission from either the Attorney General or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to re-enter the country. Sentencing is scheduled for August 26, 2025, at 2 p.m., presided over by United States District Judge Susie Morgan.
Zelaya-Zelaya could face up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Additionally, he may receive up to one year of supervised release and will be required to pay a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement Removal Operations. Assistant United States Attorney Duane A. Evans from the General Crimes Unit is handling the prosecution.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America. This initiative utilizes resources from the Department of Justice to address illegal immigration issues and aims for the elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators. The operation combines efforts from Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
