Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
A Guatemalan national living unlawfully in New Bedford has been sentenced for illegal reentry into the United States. Jose De Leon Ventura, 30, received a five-month prison sentence from U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani. After serving his sentence, he will face one year of supervised release and is subject to deportation.
In May 2025, De Leon Ventura admitted guilt to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. He was arrested in April 2025 and has been in custody since then.
De Leon Ventura was initially removed from the U.S. in December 2019 after being detained by U.S. Border Patrol in Yuma, Arizona. Following his removal, he reentered the country illegally. Authorities discovered his presence after an August 2023 arrest for operating under the influence and driving with a suspended license.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of Boston's U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Lyons prosecuted the case.
