Mexican Illegal Alien Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

Tallahassee, Florida - Noe Zamudio Hernandez, 43, of Mexico, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison after pleading guilty in federal court to attempted enticement of a minor and illegal reentry of a previously removed alien. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: "As this case demonstrated, securing our border and vigorously enforcing our immigration laws is not just a matter of national security, it is also of vital importance to keeping our communities and children safe from dangerous sexual predators, like this defendant. The Department of Justice's Operation Take Back America was launched by President Donald J. Trump and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche with this kind of case in mind, and we remain committed to devoting the full might of our office toward aggressively prosecuting dangerous criminal illegal aliens to keep our citizens and communities safe."

According to court records, the defendant came under investigation in 2024 during a law enforcement operation in Panama City, Florida, aimed at identifying individuals targeting children for sexual exploitation. During the operation, the defendant communicated with an individual he believed was a minor to arrange for a sexual transaction. When the defendant was arrested, law enforcement learned he was unlawfully present in the United States and had been previously removed to Mexico. The defendant was previously removed from the United States after committing a sexual offense against a minor.

"This case highlights the strength of our partnership with Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Attorney's Office. Together, we identified and apprehended a dangerous criminal illegal alien who was targeting children in our community," said Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford. "When individuals enter this country unlawfully and commit serious crimes, especially against children, we will work with our federal partners to ensure they are arrested and held fully accountable"

"Those who repeatedly violate our immigration laws and prey on vulnerable children will face the full force of federal prosecution, period," said Homeland Security Investigations Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno. "HSI, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to prioritize the protection of children and the integrity of our borders. We will not tolerate those who endanger our communities by disregarding our laws."

Deportation proceedings against him will commence following the conclusion of serving his federal sentence.

The case involved a joint investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Bay County Sheriff's Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.projectsafechildhood.govLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link..

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation's principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of FloridaLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. website. For more information about the United States Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.