NEW ORLEANS — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Louisiana, Eastern), published as received.
NEW ORLEANS – JONATHAN JOSE CASTILLO-JANEZ, age 24, pleaded guilty on April 30, 2024, to illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. His sentencing is set for June 25, 2024.
According to the indictment, JONATHAN JOSE CASTILLO-JANEZ, (“CASTILLO-JANEZ”) reentered the United States after being previously deported on June 14, 2017. CASTILLO-JANEZ, a Honduran national with no legal right to be in the United States, was arrested in Orleans Parish in January of 2024 for Battery and Possession of Stolen Property. Department of Homeland Security research revealed that he was deported on June 14, 2017 after being convicted in Salt Lake City, Utah, of Attempted Distribution of Cocaine. He served 120 days in jail in Utah.
CASTILLO-JANEZ faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two years, a maximum fine of up to $250,000, a maximum term of supervised release of up to one year, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. He faces a sentencing enhancement of up to 10 years imprisonment because of a prior felony conviction.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
