Carlos Alberto Escobar-Loza, a 47-year-old native of Honduras, was sentenced on April 22 by U.S. District Judge Greg Gerard Guidry after pleading guilty to illegal re-entry of a removed alien, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. Escobar-Loza received a sentence of time served, one year of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100 assessment fee. He has been held in federal prison since January.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address unauthorized re-entry into the United States and enforce immigration laws in Southeast Louisiana. The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana enforces federal laws and prosecutes criminal cases as part of its mission according to the official website.
Court records show that Escobar-Loza was found in the United States on December 26 after previously being deported on July 2, 2012. He was discovered in the Eastern District of Louisiana following an arrest by local law enforcement officials; immigration authorities later confirmed his identity and determined he had unlawfully returned after removal.
Escobar-Loza had previously encountered U.S. immigration authorities multiple times beginning around 2002 after entering without admission or parole. An Immigration Judge ordered him removed from the country in October 2003 when he failed to appear at his hearing. Between approximately 2005 and 2012, he was again apprehended several times following arrests by local law enforcement; records indicate his prior removal order was reinstated and that he was sent back to Honduras at least three times during this period.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, which uses resources from various Department of Justice initiatives including Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The operation aims to address illegal immigration and related criminal activity.
The office led by Courcelle serves as chief federal law enforcement officer for Southeast Louisiana according to its official website. The position is appointed by the President with Senate approval according to the official website. In addition to prosecuting criminal cases like this one, it also defends civil matters and handles debt collection for the federal government according to its official website.
