2 men from Mexico sentenced for illegally re-entering the US

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Two men from Mexico were sentenced for illegally re-entering the United States. The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Philadelphia.

German Espinosa-Hernandez, aka Ferdinand Gonzalez-Velez, 36, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to 36 months in prison and three years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to illegal re-entry in March.

According to court documents, Espinosa-Hernandez was ordered removed by an immigration judge in York in May 2008 and was previously removed from the United States on two prior occasions, in May and June of 2008.

Additionally, Espinosa-Hernandez was granted voluntary returns to Mexico on two other occasions; in December 1999 and August 2008. Since 2003 Espinosa-Hernandez has accumulated seven prior criminal convictions as an adult, including resisting arrest and three driving under the influence of alcohol offenses. On September 24, 2013, after having re-entered the U.S. illegally Espinosa-Hernandez was again apprehended in Franklin County by ICE ERO officers.

On July 23, Alberto Bautista-Sanchez, 30, also a citizen of Mexico, living in the U.S. illegally, was sentenced to 41 months in prison and three years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to illegal re-entry in March.

According to court documents, Bautista-Sanchez was ordered removed from the United States by an immigration judge in Arizona in November 2002. Between November 2002 and January 2013, Bautista-Sanchez was previously removed from the United States eight times. Additionally, since 2001, Bautista-Sanchez has accumulated 13 criminal convictions as an adult, including two aggravated felony sex offenses involving a minor.

On December 3, 2013, after re-entering the United States illegally, Bautista-Sanchez was apprehended in Franklin County by ERO officers.