4-time deported Mexican man sentenced in Wisconsin to nearly 4 years in federal prison for illegally re-entering US

MADISON, Wis. — A convicted felon who was previously deported to Mexico four time was sentenced Wednesday to 46 months in federal prison for illegally re-entering the United States after having been deported.

This sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney John W. Vaudreuil, Western District of Wisconsin. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Rolando Reyes-Cruz, 49, a Mexico national who was residing in New Lisbon, Wisconsin, was sentenced July 6 by U.S. District Judge James Peterson to 46 months in federal prison for illegally re-entering the United States after having been deported, which is a felony.  Reyes-Cruz pleaded guilty to the charge May 5.

Reyes-Cruz first entered the United States illegally when he was about 14 years old.  Despite having been deported to Mexico four times, he continued to re-enter the United States and return to Wisconsin.  While in Wisconsin, he was convicted of the following crimes: burglary, domestic battery while armed, hit-and-run, felon in possession of a firearm, possessing cocaine, resisting an officer, identity theft, and substantial battery.  He was also previously convicted of illegal re-entry after deportation in the Eastern District of Wisconsin in 2007.

While recognizing that Reyes-Cruz returned to Wisconsin to see his children, Judge Peterson noted that he had a duty to protect the public from the defendant’s criminal activity.

Reyes-Cruz will again be deported from the United States to Mexico after he completes his prison sentence.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman, Western District of Wisconsin, prosecuted this case.