Illegal Alien from Honduras Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the United States

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Honduran national, illegally living in the Kansas City, Mo. area, was sentenced to six months in federal prison for violating immigration laws.

On April 21, 2026, Orlin Rafael Cerrato-Avilez, 32, was found guilty by a federal trial jury of illegally reentering the United States after having previously been deported.

On March 4, 2026, officers with the Independence, Missouri Police Department arrested Cerrato-Avilez for giving false information during a traffic stop when he would not provide complete information about his date of birth. After using fingerprints to confirm Cerrato-Avilez's identity, officers learned he had previously been removed from the United States.

The Independence Police Department contacted Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations, who took custody of Cerrato-Avilez. In conjunction with ICE - Homeland Security Investigations, it was determined that Cerrato-Avilez had illegally entered the United States in April of 2013 and was removed to Honduras later that same month.

The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Nichols and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen D. Mahoney. It was investigated by the Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations divisions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Independence, Missouri Police Department.

Operation Take Back America

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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).