Man from Mexico pleads guilty to re-entering America illegally

The U.S. Attorney’s Office says a Mexican man pleaded guilty in federal court, to re-entering America illegally.

Federal prosecutors say Alberto Lorea had been previously convicted on serious felony offenses, and implicated in criminal activities throughout the U.S. and Mexico since 1990.

Investigators caught Lorea in Forest back on December 12, 2008, where he was working at a temp agency.

Lorea faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and/or a fine up to $250,000, as well as deporation.

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Read the full news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office below:

A citizen of Mexico, who has been implicated in criminal activities throughout the United States and Mexico since at least 1990, has admitted to illegally reentering the United States.

Alberto Rodriguez Lorea, a citizen of Mexico, who had previously convicted of serious felony offenses, pleaded guilty today to one count of illegal entry into the United States by an aggravated felon. Lorea admitted that on or about January 2007, he illegally re-entered the county near Nogales, Arizona.

“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting citizens of the Western District of Virginia from those who ignore the law of the United States,” United States Attorney Julia C. Dudley said today. “This is especially true of serious felons who repeatedly commit crimes, ignoring national and international borders. Lorea’s conviction is the result of the cooperation of local, state and Federal authorities.”

According to a statement of facts entered in District Court today and signed by the defendant, Lorea’s run-ins with law enforcement began in 1990. In January of that year, Lorea was arrested for inflicting corporal battery on a spouse and later convicted of misdemeanor battery in California. At that time he was transferred to the custody of the United States Border Patrol and voluntarily returned to Mexico.

In August of 1990, Lorea was arrested by the Santa Maria, Calf. Police Department on charges of inflicting corporal battery on a spouse. Upon his arrest, the defendant informed police that he was wanted by Mexican Police in regards to a homicide in that country, a fact confirmed with the Jalisco, Mexico Police Department.

On January 21, 1992, Lorea was convicted in the Superior Court for the County of Santa Barbara, Calif. For lewd and lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14.

In 1995, Lorea was convicted of illegal re-entry after deportation in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona. He was sentenced toa term of incarceration of 46 months and deported on April 4, 2003.

On December 12, 2008, Lorea was arrested in Forest, Virginia where he was employed by a temporary agency. At that time the defendant admitted that he had illegally re-entered the United States on or about January 2007 near Nogales, Arizona.

At sentencing, Lorea faces a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and/or a fine of $250,000. He also faces deportation upon the completion of his sentence. A sentencing hearing for this matter has not been scheduled.

The investigation of the case was conducted by Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Deportation and Removal Office.  Assistant United States Attorney C. Patrick Hogeboom III is prosecuting the case for the United States.