Mexican National With Five Prior Deportations Sentenced To Prison For Illegally Reentering The United States

LAS VEGAS - A Mexican national was sentenced today by United States District Judge James C. Mahan to 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegally reentering the United States after being removed from the country on five prior occasions.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Santos Esparza-Torres was found by immigration officials, after he was previously deported on or about October 29, 2005, September 18, 2008, September 24, 2019, January 17, 2020, and April 16, 2020. Esparza-Torres came into ICE custody in 2024, while serving a state sentence on a conviction for conspiracy to violate uniform controlled substances act. Esparza-Torres will be eligible for parole on his state drug conviction in March of 2026, and will then serve his 24-month Federal sentence.

Esparza-Torres pleaded guilty to one count of Deported Alien Found in the United States. This was his second such conviction, as he was convicted in 2020 in the Southern District of California for the same crime.

United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Salt Lake City Field Office Director Jason Knight made the announcement.

The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated the case; and the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case.

Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

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