Mexican Nationals Sentenced for Federal Immigration Violations

TYLER – Three Mexican Nationals have been sentenced to federal prison for immigration violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales Tuesday. Sentencing hearings were held in Tyler before U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis.

Jose Luis Rosales-Betancourt, 26, of Guerrero, Mexico, pleaded guilty on Dec. 6, 2011, to being a criminal alien unlawfully present in the United States after having been previously deported. He was sentenced April 24 to 30 months in federal prison. According to information presented in court, Rosales-Betancourt admitted to being a Mexican national who had been deported to Mexico after a criminal conviction for aggravated robbery in Smith County on July 17, 2006. After being deported to Mexico, Rosales-Betancourt re-entered the United States without permission and was ultimately found unlawfully present in Smith County on Sep. 19, 2011. Rosales-Betancourt was indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with immigration violations on Oct. 5, 2010.

Cesar Mendoza-Hernandez, 50, of Saltillo, Mexico, pleaded guilty on Nov. 8, 2011, to being a criminal alien unlawfully present in the United States after having been previously deported, and was sentenced Tuesday to 96 months in federal prison. According to federal authorities, Mendoza has an extensive criminal history, including convictions for involuntary manslaughter in Harris County in 1986 and a prior illegal re-entry conviction in the Northern District of Texas in 2000. He has been deported to Mexico three times. His last deportation occurred on Mar. 21, 2006. After being deported, Mendoza re-entered the United States without permission and was ultimately found unlawfully present in the Gregg County jail on Apr. 17, 2011. Mendoza was indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with immigration violations on Sep. 15, 2011.

Manuel Baeza-Tafolla, 43, of Michoacán, Mexico, pleaded guilty on Jan. 4, 2012, to being an alien unlawfully present in the United States after having been previously deported, and was sentenced Tuesday to 12 months in federal prison. According to prosecutors, Baeza was previously convicted of alien smuggling in the Del Rio Division of the Western District of Texas in 1999. After this conviction, Baeza was deported to Mexico on Jan. 5, 2000. After being deported, Baeza re-entered the United States and was found unlawfully present in Gregg County, Texas, on Sep. 19, 2011. Baeza was indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with immigration violations on Nov. 2, 2011. The defendants will be deported following the completion of their federal prison sentences.