Honduran Illegal Alien Guilty of Illegal Reentry

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DARWIN NOE MENDOSA-CRUZ, age 29, a citizen of Honduras, pled guilty on September 22, 2026, to reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. His sentencing is set before U.S. District Judge William J. Crain on December 15, 2026.

According to the bill of information, DARWIN NOE MENDOSA-CRUZ reentered the United States sometime prior to May 7, 2026, after having been previously removed on or about November 27, 2023. 

DARWIN NOE MENDOSA-CRUZ faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 2 years, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to three years of supervised release after imprisonment, and payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Irene González of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.