The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California announced Friday that federal prosecutors filed charges this week against 24 people who allegedly reentered the United States after previously being removed.
Several of the defendants have prior felony convictions, including those for narcotics offenses, according to the US Attorney’s office.
One of the defendants was previously convicted of transporting and possessing methamphetamine, cocaine, and cocaine base for sale.
Andrés Palacios Duque, 51, of Mexico, is among those charged, according to the office. He was previously removed in 2009 and 2015.
In 2014, Duque was found guilty in Orange County Superior Court of transporting and possessing methamphetamine, cocaine, and cocaine base with the intent to sell.
Tereso Guadalupe Martínez Reyes, 23, was charged with illegal reentry and possession of stolen goods from an interstate shipment.
Martínez was arrested by US Border Patrol agents on March 13 for driving erratically on I-15 in San Bernardino County.
Agents discovered 478 boxes of Nike Jordan 6 Rings shoes, valued at approximately $64,530, which were allegedly stolen from a freight train.
Martínez was already deported to Mexico in February, according to the US Attorney’s Office.
He was ordered held without bond on March 18, pleaded not guilty on April 1, and is scheduled to appear in Los Angeles on May 20 for trial, according to the office.
According to the US Attorney’s Office, unlawful reentry after removal can result in a maximum sentence of two years in federal prison.
However, defendants with prior felony convictions face up to 10 years in prison, while those removed after an aggravated felony face up to 20 years, according to the office.
Criminal complaints and indictments include allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
