A 44-year-old Mexican national, Arturo Cruz-Badillo, has been sentenced to a two-year term in federal prison after pleading guilty to the charge of illegal reentry into the United States following a prior removal. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei, detailing how Cruz-Badillo's history of seven DWI convictions played a role in the sentencing decision made by U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
On Nov. 5, 2024, Cruz-Badillo entered his guilty plea, leading to his recent sentencing. His criminal record includes not only the aforementioned series of DWIs but also a conviction for battery. Judge Ramos stressed the threat that his repeated offenses pose to community safety. Following his prison term, Cruz-Badillo is expected to be subject to further removal proceedings, as stated in the press release.
The circumstances of Cruz-Badillo’s last apprehension were on Aug. 22, 2024, when Border Patrol agents at a checkpoint near Sarita, Texas found him alongside ten other undocumented individuals inside a commercial cargo trailer. The previous expulsions from the U.S. occurred thrice between the years of 2012 and 2023. He currently awaits transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility, the whereabouts of which is yet to be determined.
The case falls within the scope of Operation Take Back America, an initiative by the Department of Justice. This nationwide effort focuses on combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and ensuring the safety of American communities. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Thorpe is in charge of prosecuting the case, with investigations conducted by the Border Patrol.
