Illegal Alien with Prior Conviction for Attempted Rape of Minor Pleads Guilty to Illegally Reentering United States

ALBANY, NEW YORK - Samuel Sotero Ambrocio-Vicente, 34, a citizen of Guatemala, pled guilty yesterday to illegally reentering the United States after a prior order of removal that followed his conviction for the New York State felony offense of attempted rape in the second degree (involving a minor who was less than 15 years old). First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement.

As part of his plea, Ambrocio-Vicente admitted that on February 4, 2020, he pled guilty to attempted rape in the second degree in Montgomery County Court. On February 12, 2020, Ambrocio-Vicente was removed to Guatemala. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE") officers apprehended Ambrocio-Vicente on December 18, 2025, while conducting targeted immigration enforcement operations in the city of Albany. Ambrocio-Vicente admitted during a subsequent interview that he had not received authorization to reenter the United States.

At sentencing on July 8, 2026, Ambrocio-Vicente faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to three years. He also faces deportation and removal in immigration court. A defendant's sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute(s) the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

"Samuel Sotero Ambrocio-Vicente was removed from the United States after attempting to rape a child, yet he brazenly returned in violation of federal law," First Assistant United States Attorney Sarcone said. "Individuals who commit serious crimes and then defy a lawful removal order have no place in this country. Cases like this make clear why the United States must maintain strong border security and strict immigration enforcement to prevent previously removed offenders from illegally reentering and putting our communities at risk. HSI's targeted enforcement operations catch people like this, who belong as far away from our country as they can get."

HSI Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan stated, "The arrest and resulting plea of Ambrocio-Vicente, previously convicted of attempted rape of a minor, is indicative of HSI's ongoing effort to secure the safety of our communities and the rule of law. HSI Albany, in coordination with ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations and our federal partners, remains committed to identifying and arresting predators whose violent criminal histories pose an ongoing threat to the communities we are sworn to protect."

HSI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin S. Clark and Paul V. DerOhannesian are prosecuting the case.