Another Guatemalan Living in New Bedford Charged With Illegal Reentry

BOSTON (WBSM) — A Guatemalan national who had been residing in New Bedford after illegally reentering the United States pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to doing so. He is the second Guatemalan national living in New Bedford to face this charge this week.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Jose De Leon Ventura, 30, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said De Leon Ventura had been removed from the U.S. in December 2019 after he was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol in Yuma, Arizona, but later unlawfully reentered the U.S.

“Federal authorities became aware of De Leon Ventura’s presence in the United States following his arrest in August 2023 by state authorities for operating under the influence of liquor and operating after a suspended license,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Get our free mobile app

De Leon Ventura was arrested on April 23, 2025 and has remained in custody since. He is scheduled for sentencing on July 14.

He is the second Guatemalan national living in New Bedford who was charged with unlawful reentry this week, as the twice-deported Manuel Ruiz Luis was charged with reentering the country again.

READ MORE: Twice-Deported Guatemalan Man Living Illegally in New Bedford Indicted

The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to two years in prison, one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000, and would then be subject to deportation after serving the sentence.