A Honduran citizen has been sentenced to 12 months in federal prison for illegally reentering the United States after being previously removed, according to a statement from Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson. United States District Judge Susie Morgan handed down the sentence to Dery Joncarlos Zelaya-Zelaya, also known as "Dery Zelaya," age 27, on August 26, 2025.
Zelaya-Zelaya had earlier pleaded guilty to illegal reentry of a removed alien, which is a violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a). In addition to his prison term, he was ordered to serve one year of supervised release upon completion of his sentence and pay a mandatory $100 special assessment.
Court documents state that Zelaya-Zelaya was previously deported 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 return.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson commended U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement Removal Operations for their work in investigating this case. Assistant United States Attorney Duane A. Evans from the General Crimes Unit prosecuted the matter.
The case falls under Operation Take Back America, an initiative led by the Department of Justice aimed at addressing illegal immigration and targeting criminal organizations and violent crime through coordinated efforts involving various departmental task forces.
