Honduran National Guilty of Illegal Re-Entry, Faces Enhanced Sentence for Prior Felony Conviction

NEW ORLEANS - U.S. Attorney Duane Evans announced today that ALVARO LUIS ALCERRO-BANEGAS ("ALCERRO-BANEGAS"), age 38, pled guilty on December 10, 2024 to illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a) and Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(b)(1).

According to court documents, ALCERRO-BANEGAS, reentered the United States after being previously deported on September 2, 2022. ALCERRO-BANEGAS, a Honduran national, came to the attention of Immigration and Customs Enforcement after his arrest by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office on March 2, 2024. On January 18, 2017, in the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida, ALCERRO-BANEGAS was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, after previously being found guilty of illegal re-entry after deportation.

ALCERRO-BANEGAS faces up to two years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to one year of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. However, because of his prior felony conviction, ALCERRO-BANEGAS also faces a sentencing enhancement of up to 10 years imprisonment.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.