Honduran man pleads guilty in Missouri to illegally re-entering US 10 times

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Honduran man pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to illegally re-entering the United States 10 times.

This guilty plea resulted from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Jose Salazar-Aguilar, 33, a citizen of Honduras, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah W. Hays to illegally re-entering the United States after having originally been deported following his conviction for an aggravated felony. This is Salazar-Aguilar’s second re-entry conviction. Salazar-Aguilar has been deported 10 times. He was last removed on Aug. 8, 2013.

Salazar-Aguilar was arrested by Kansas City, Mo., police officers on Feb. 19, 2017, for driving under the influence and resisting arrest. After he was released on bond, ICE officers apprehended him during a traffic stop on Feb. 27, 2017.

Salazar-Aguilar was convicted in Oregon in 2003 of the felony offense of delivering a controlled substance; he was deported after serving his imposed sentence. Salazar-Aguilar also has prior felony convictions for possessing a controlled substance, forgery and illegally re-entering the United States after having been deported following an aggravated felony conviction.

Under federal statutes, Salazar-Aguilar is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the U.S. Probation Office completes a presentence investigation.

This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberlee L. Moore, Western District of Missouri.