A Sioux City man, Erasmo Roberto Mendez-Lopez, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for illegally re-entering the United States as a felon. The 29-year-old from Iowa was sentenced following his guilty plea on September 4, 2024.
Mendez-Lopez admitted to re-entering the U.S. after being deported as a felon in 2019. He was arrested on May 17, 2024, by Sioux City police for operating while under the influence (OWI) second offense and eluding law enforcement. He also faced an active failure to appear warrant related to a prior OWI charge in Woodbury County and had four active warrants from Plymouth County for various offenses including speeding and improper use of lanes.
Judge Leonard T. Strand of the United States District Court sentenced Mendez-Lopez to 24 months' imprisonment with an additional three-year term of supervised release following his prison term. It is noted that there is no parole available in the federal system.
Currently, Mendez-Lopez is held in custody by the United States Marshals until he can be transferred to a federal prison facility.