Alien Sentenced for Illegal Reentry of an Aggravated Felon

Raleigh, N.C. – Manuel Rodriguez-Mendoza, 41, of Mexico, illegally present in the United States and residing in Wake County, North Carolina, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison and an additional 18 months in federal prison for violating his supervised release.

On May 20, 2020, Rodriguez-Mendoza pled guilty to one count of illegal reentry of an aggravated felon.  Rodriguez-Mendoza, was deported from the United States on April 28, 2006, at Brownsville, Texas, after having been convicted of illegal alien in possession of a firearm, an aggravated felony, on March 3, 2006, in the Middle District of North Carolina. 

While on federal supervised release, on February 15, 2009, Rodriguez-Mendoza was arrested by the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and charged with carrying a concealed weapon and assault with a deadly weapon.  Rodriguez-Mendoza posted a $3,000 bond, was released and failed to appear in state court.  Rodriguez-Mendoza remained a fugitive until he was arrested on July 1, 2016, by the Wake County Sheriff’s Office and charged with trafficking in cocaine, maintaining a dwelling to sell controlled substances and possession of a stolen firearm.

Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabriel Diaz  prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:19-cr-00198-FL.

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The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.