Jury Convicts Honduran Citizen of Illegally Reentering the United States

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - An illegal alien was found guilty by a federal trial jury for illegally reentering the United States after having previously been deported.

Orlin Rafael Cerrato-Avilez, 32, was found guilty of one count of illegal reentry of a removed alien.

On March 4, 2026, officers with the Independence, Missouri Police Department arrested Cerrato-Avilez for giving false information during a traffic stop when he would not provide complete information about his date of birth. After using fingerprints to confirm Cerrato-Avilez's identity, officers learned he had previously been removed from the United States.

The Independence Police Department contacted Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations, ("ICE-ERO") who took custody of Cerrato-Avilez. In conjunction with ICE - Homeland Security Investigations ("ICE-HSI"), it was determined that Cerrato-Avilez had illegally entered the United States in April of 2013 and was removed to Honduras later that same month.

Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., returned a guilty verdict to U.S. District Judge Greg Kays, ending a trial that began Monday, April 20, 2026.

Under federal statutes, Cerrato-Avilez is facing up to two years in federal prison. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.

The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Nichols and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen D. Mahoney. It was investigated by ICE-HSI, ICE-ERO, and the Independence, Missouri Police Department.

Operation Take Back America

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 (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.