El Salvadorian sex offender sentenced for second unlawful entry

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 27-year-old man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of illegal re-entry into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Edgar Yovani Bonilla-Flores pleaded guilty June 17.

Today, U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton ordered Bonilla-Flores to serve 16 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.

At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Bonilla-Flores had previously illegally entered the United States on April 8, 2014. He had also engaged in criminal conduct that resulted in a conviction for the aggravated felony offense of third degree sex offense in Montgomery County, Maryland. In that case, the court heard he had sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old female he had met over social media. Bonilla-Flores had also failed to register as a sex offender. He was ordered to be removed from the United States Dec. 20, 2021.

In handing down the sentence, the court noted the egregiousness surrounding the prior sex offense and also that the Bonilla-Flores returned to the United States unlawfully shortly after being removed.

On April 18, authorities found Bonilla-Flores in Falfurrias. He was not in possession of any immigration documents nor had filed a petition to remain legally in the United States. He admitted to being a citizen of El Salvador and that he entered the country illegally by crossing the Rio Grande River near Hidalgo April 9. Records revealed he was physically removed Feb. 11.

Bonilla-Flores has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Parker Gochenour prosecuted the case.