Missouri – A Mexican national living unlawfully in Missouri has been sentenced in federal court for returning to the United States after being deported following a serious felony conviction. The sentence brings another case to a close involving repeat immigration violations tied to prior drug trafficking offenses.
Severo De La Torre-Sanchez, 61, received a prison term of three years and six months after pleading guilty to illegal reentry by an alien previously convicted of an aggravated felony. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Brian Wimes. In addition to the prison term, De La Torre-Sanchez was ordered to serve three years of supervised release once his federal sentence is completed.
According to the Department of Justice, De La Torre-Sanchez came to the attention of authorities on August 7, 2024, when officers located him at a restaurant in Lee’s Summit. Law enforcement was attempting to serve him with an ex-parte order of protection at the time. During that encounter, agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement determined that he was in the country illegally.
Further investigation revealed that De La Torre-Sanche, who has been residing in Lee’s Summit, had been removed from the United States twice before, once in 2020 and again in 2022. His 2020 removal followed the completion of a 17-year federal prison sentence for drug trafficking imposed in the Southern District of Georgia. Despite that removal, he later returned to the country without authorization.
In 2022, De La Torre-Sanchez was convicted again, this time for attempted reentry of a removed alien in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. That conviction marked another federal offense tied to his continued unlawful presence in the United States.
The most recent case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda K. Hanson and investigated by Homeland Security authorities. Federal officials said the case reflects ongoing enforcement efforts targeting individuals who repeatedly violate immigration laws, particularly those with serious criminal histories.
Prosecutors noted that the case falls under Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative led by the Department of Justice. The operation focuses on enforcing immigration laws, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and strengthening public safety by addressing repeat and violent offenders.
Federal authorities emphasized that individuals who reenter the United States after removal, especially following aggravated felony convictions, face significant penalties under federal law.
