Guatemalan Living in New Bedford Pleads Guilty to Illegally Entering U.S. a Second Time

BOSTON (WBSM) — A twice-deported Guatemalan national who was unlawfully residing in New Bedford pleaded guilty to illegally re-entering the United States after deportation.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Manuel Ruiz Luis, 52, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. He had been indicted by a federal grand jury back in May.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Ruiz Luis was last deported from the U.S. back to Guatemala in April 1996 and then sometime after that re-entered the country illegally. He was then removed again on March 28, 2012, and again snuck back into the U.S.

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“Prior to his 2012 removal, Ruiz Luis had multiple criminal convictions including one charge of operating under the influence and four separate charges of operating a motor vehicle without a license,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

READ MORE: Guatemalan Living in New Bedford Pleads Guilty to Illegally Re-entering the Country

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. Ruiz Luis would also be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 18.