Previously deported illegal alien sentenced to 10 years in federal prison

HOUSTON — A previously deported Mexico national was sentenced Monday to 10 years in federal prison for re-entering the United States after being deported. The sentence resulted from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Simon Casares-Rodriguez, 44, pleaded guilty to illegally re-entering the United States after being deported March 31, 2006, following his aggravated felony conviction. After his arrest for robbery in July 2009, he was discovered in Harris County Jail by ERO officers working in ICE's Criminal Alien Program. The Criminal Alien Program's mission is to identify deportable aliens in local, state and federal jails and place detainers on them, so that if they are released by jail officials, they are released to ICE rather than to the streets.

Further investigation revealed that Casares-Rodriguez's history includes a final order of removal issued by an immigration judge in April 1994 and convictions for the following crimes: five previous deportations, assault on a federal officer, disorderly conduct, obstructing a legal process, drugs fourth degree, criminal damaging, second-degree criminal sexual conduct and second-degree assault.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael W. Schultz, Southern District of Texas, prosecuted the case.