Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson has announced that Santiago Puente-Garcia has pleaded guilty to illegal reentry of a removed alien. The 25-year-old native of Mexico admitted guilt on April 11, 2025, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
According to the indictment, Puente-Garcia was removed from the United States on February 4, 2022. He was subsequently discovered in the Eastern District of Louisiana on October 29, 2024, without receiving permission to reenter from either the Attorney General of the United States or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
Puente-Garcia faces a potential maximum sentence of two years, a fine of up to $250,000, up to one year of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. His sentencing is to be handled by U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk.
Simpson commended the efforts of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, in their investigation of this case. The prosecution is led by Assistant United States Attorney Jon Maestri of the General Crimes Unit.