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NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced May 12, 2021 that Felipe Martinez-Rivera, age 50, pled guilty on May 12, 2021 to a one-count bill of information for reentry of a deported alien previously convicted of a felony, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a)and (b)(1).

According to the bill of information, Martinez-Rivera reentered the United States after he was previously deported on November 9, 1998. Furthermore, on or about May 18, 2010, Martinez-Rivera was convicted of illegal possession of less than one gram of cocaine in Harris County Texas – a felony under Texas law.

U.S. District Court Judge Sarah S. Vance set sentencing for July 14, 2021. Martinez- Rivera faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years, a maximum fine of $250,000, a maximum term of supervised release of three years, and a mandatory $100 special assessment.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security in investigating this matter. Assistant U. S. Attorney Irene Gonzalez is in charge of the prosecution.