Violent Felon Sentenced to 5 Years for Illegal Re-entry Into U.S.

A violent felon was sentenced today to five years in federal prison for immigration violations, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.

Gustavo Adolfo Ramirez-Leos, a 30-year-old citizen of Mexico, pleaded guilty in January to illegal re-entry after removal from the United States. He was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Ada Brown, who handed down a sentence longer than the guidelines due to his history of violence.

In plea papers, Mr. Ramirez-Leos – who had been deported or instructed to depart the U.S. on six prior occasions – admitted to being in north Texas without authorization.

According to records introduced into evidence at sentencing, during his time in the U.S., Mr. Ramirez-Leos committed at least eight crimes, including burglary, theft, and family violence.  

Prior to his second deportation in 2013, Mr. Ramirez-Leos attacked his pregnant girlfriend, choking her and then throwing her to the ground and stomping on her back while yelling, “I will kill you and the baby.” He also attacked the victim’s roommate, who attempted to intervene.

Seven years later, in 2020, after returning to the U.S., he attacked his own sister, punching her in the face and neck, pointing a BB gun at her head, and dragging her by the hair.  

(Following both altercations, Mr. Ramirez-Leos pleaded guilty to state charges of assault causing bodily injury to a family member and was sentenced, respectively, to 180 days and 120 days in jail.)

Upon completion of his sentence in the immigration case, Mr. Ramirez-Leos will once again face deportation.

Immigration & Customs Enforcement conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dimitri Rocha prosecuted the case.