A federal jury in Kansas City, Missouri found Orlin Rafael Cerrato-Avilez, a 32-year-old Honduran citizen, guilty on April 22 of illegally reentering the United States after having previously been deported.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement and federal prosecutors to address illegal immigration and related crimes. The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri handles federal prosecutions and civil litigation across 66 counties in western Missouri, according to the official website. The office is affiliated with the U.S. Department of Justice and collaborates with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement partners.
Cerrato-Avilez was arrested by officers from the Independence Police Department on March 4 after he provided false information during a traffic stop. Authorities used fingerprints to confirm his identity and discovered that he had previously been removed from the United States in April 2013. After his arrest, Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations took custody of Cerrato-Avilez.
The trial began on April 20 in U.S. District Court before Judge Greg Kays. Following presentation of evidence, jurors returned a guilty verdict for one count of illegal reentry by a removed alien. Cerrato-Avilez now faces up to two years in federal prison; sentencing will be determined at a later hearing based on advisory guidelines.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Nichols and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen D. Mahoney prosecuted the case with assistance from ICE-Homeland Security Investigations, ICE-Enforcement and Removal Operations, and local police.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative led by the Department of Justice aimed at addressing illegal immigration as well as combating cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs).
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has offices in Kansas City, Jefferson City, and Springfield according to its official website (source). Its jurisdiction stretches from Iowa to Arkansas north-south borders and covers territory from Kansas eastward halfway across Missouri (source). The office also supports community outreach programs targeting violent crime prevention (source).
