CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A 50-year-old man from El Salvador has been convicted of illegally reentering the United States, according to Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
The jury took less than 10 minutes to find Jose Leandro Juarez-Rivas guilty after a one-day trial. On February 18, authorities discovered Juarez-Rivas lacked legal authorization to be in the country during immigration inspections on a commercial bus at the Falfurrias Border Patrol checkpoint. The jury was informed that Juarez-Rivas was initially ordered removed in May 2018 and had illegally returned earlier this year.
The defense argued that Juarez-Rivas was unaware of his removal order and his prohibition from reentering the United States, but the jury dismissed these claims. U.S. District Judge David S. Morales presided over the trial and scheduled sentencing for August 19. Juarez-Rivas faces up to two years in federal prison and a potential $250,000 fine. He remains in custody pending the hearing…