Mexican and Salvadorian nationals residing in Las Vegas appeared in court on Monday to face charges related to illegal reentry into the United States after their prior deportation. Wilmer Alexander Cortez-Cruz, 56, and Sergio Ivan Morelos-Torres, 52, are both charged with one count of being deported aliens found in the United States.
Preliminary hearings for both defendants are set for April 14, 2025, before United States Magistrate Judge Elayna J. Youchah. According to the criminal complaints and court proceedings, Cortez-Cruz and Morelos-Torres had been deported earlier but returned to the United States without authorization.
The Nevada Department of Corrections turned over Cortez-Cruz to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on March 19, 2025, based on an ICE detainer. Cortez-Cruz had been deported previously on October 16, 2019. His criminal history includes multiple DUI convictions, among them a felony DUI conviction.
ICE arrested Morelos-Torres on March 18, 2025. He had been deported on eight previous occasions. Before his first deportation, Morelos-Torres was convicted of felony burglary, second degree, under California Penal Code 459. His record also includes two federal convictions for illegal reentry, one in the District of Colorado and another in the Central District of California.
If found guilty, Morelos-Torres could face a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, a three-year supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment. Cortez-Cruz faces a potential maximum sentence of two years imprisonment, a one-year supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Michael Bernacke, Salt Lake City Field Office Director. The case was investigated by ICE's Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office, and is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada.
The public can report crimes and suspicious activities to ICE by calling 866-DHS-2-ICE or completing the online tip form. It is important to note that a complaint is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.