Violent felon guilty of illegally entering the US for a fifth time

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An illegal alien and violent felon who has previously illegally entered the United States on at least four occasions, pleaded guilty today to his fifth instance of illegally entering the United States.

According to court documents, Jose Edgardo Diaz-Ramos, 36, is a native and citizen of Honduras. Prior to his previous removal, Diaz-Ramos was convicted of a violent felony in California of willful infliction of corporal injury on a spouse. In 2014, after serving a sentence of six years in prison, Diaz-Ramos was deported at taxpayer expense for a fourth time. Sometime thereafter, Diaz-Ramos illegally reentered the United States again.

Diaz-Ramos pleaded guilty to illegal reentry of a removed alien after commission of a felony, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison when sentenced on July 26. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

“ERO prioritizes the prosecution and removal of criminal aliens committing egregious and violent felonies that victimize our communities,” said Lyle A. Boelens, Acting Field Office Director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Washington, D.C. “Virginia residents can be assured that ERO officers will continue to pursue violent criminal aliens for prosecution and removal, particularly those who demonstrate a constant disregard for our laws.”

G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Lyle A. Boelens, Acting Field Office Director for ICE's ERO Washington, D.C., made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis accepted the plea. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan P. Geary is prosecuting the case.