A Mexican nationwide who had been deported from the US a number of instances earlier than illegally reentering the nation has been sentenced to twenty years in federal jail for sexually exploiting two minors, the US Division of Justice mentioned.Erik Santana-Garcia, 34, of Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah, was sentenced on July 30 to twenty years in federal jail with out parole, adopted by lifetime supervised launch, in response to the DOJ.He was convicted of interstate transportation of a minor with intent to have interaction in unlawful sexual exercise, possession of kid pornography and unlawful reentry into the US following a previous deportation.ICE mentioned Santana-Garcia had been faraway from the US earlier than illegally reentering the nation and will probably be deported to Mexico after serving his 20-year jail sentence.The company mentioned the Trump administration has “zero tolerance” for little one predators and individuals who illegally enter the US.
Transported minor from Utah
Santana-Garcia pleaded responsible on March 3, 2026, in response to courtroom paperwork. Prosecutors mentioned he transported a minor throughout state traces with the intention of partaking in unlawful sexual exercise with the kid.He left Utah with the minor on November 10, 2024, meaning to take the kid to New York. Nonetheless, officers with the Oak Grove Police Division in Missouri positioned the pair two days later.
Materials involving second minor discovered
Homeland Safety Investigations later discovered little one pornography depicting a second minor on a telephone seized from Santana-Garcia on the time of his arrest, prosecutors mentioned.Santana-Garcia had beforehand been deported and faraway from the US a number of instances, most lately on March 6, 2019, in response to the DOJ.
