A Guatemalan national, Manolo Elias Tecum-Tecum, was sentenced on May 8, 2025, for illegally reentering the United States after a previous deportation. The case unfolded in Mobile County, Alabama, where deputies from the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office stopped Tecum-Tecum for a traffic violation. Suspecting he might not be a U.S. citizen, they contacted the United States Border Patrol (USBP), which confirmed his prior removal in 2010 and a conviction for illegal entry that same year.
Judge Dubose imposed a time-served sentence along with a one-year term of supervised release upon Tecum-Tecum's future release. He had been detained since February 18, 2025. Following his release from prison, immigration officials will commence deportation proceedings against him. Additionally, he was ordered to pay $100 in special assessments.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama. The investigation was conducted by the United States Border Patrol and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jimmy L. Thomas prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative aimed at using resources from the Department of Justice to combat illegal immigration and dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime.