A Salvadoran man with a history of felony convictions has been sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for illegally reentering the United States. Chief United States District Judge Andrew Gordan handed down the sentence to David Cristales-Machado, who will also face three years of supervised release once he serves his prison term. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Nevada reported that after his sentence, Cristales-Machado is set for deportation to El Salvador for the second time.
Court documents revealed Cristales-Machado was encountered by immigration officials in Clark County, Nevada. He was arrested and convicted of carrying a concealed weapon without a permit twice, first in October 2024 and again in January 2025. His criminal record includes three felony convictions, comprising two for attempted possession of a stolen vehicle and one for attempted burglary. Following these convictions, Cristales-Machado was initially deported in 2014.
In the wake of this sentence, Acting United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Acting Field Office Director Jason Knight from ICE's Salt Lake City office, who announced the sentencing, highlighted the ongoing efforts to address illegal reentry cases. Cristales-Machado pleaded guilty to the charge of "Deported Alien Found in the United States" prior to receiving his sentence, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The investigative work leading up to Cristales-Machado's arrest and subsequent conviction was carried out by the ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for District of Nevada. In light of this case, the public is encouraged to report crimes or suspicious activities by calling 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or through filling out an online tip form, as per a statement from the Justice Department.
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