Jury convicts illegal alien who claimed he was kidnapped and forced to return to US

HOUSTON - A 37-year-old Mexican national has been found guilty of illegally reentering the country without authorization, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

The jury deliberated for less than 30 minutes before convicting Eduardo Aguilera-Gallardo following a two-day trial.

Testimony revealed he became a lawful permanent resident in 2001. However, he later lost that status and was removed from the United States in 2025.

A deportation officer described how he escorted Gallardo across the international boundary in Laredo to be returned to Mexico. A fingerprint examiner also identified Gallardo as the same person documented in various deportation materials.

Testimony revealed that on April 21, 2025, authorities found Aguilera-Gallardo in Houston with no authorization to be in the United States. The jury heard that at that time, he had not reported any threat or kidnapping and neglected to ask for any help.

However, the defense attempted to convince the jury Aguilera-Gallardo was kidnapped at the Mexican border after returning to Mexico and held for ransom. He claimed his family paid for his release and kidnappers forced him to return to the United States.

Testimony and evidence revealed that neither Aguilera-Gallardo nor his family sought assistance from law enforcement in either country. He also never reported the alleged kidnapping to authorities once in the United States.

The jury rejected the defense and found Aguilera-Gallardo guilty as charged.

U.S. District Judge Sim Lake presided over the trial and set sentencing for Aug. 7. At that time, Aguilera-Gallardo faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.

Immigration Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ben Hostetter and Ekua Assabill are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.