On Thursday, September 24, 2026, United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. sentenced David Joel Hernandez-Sanchez to 30 months in federal prison for Illegal Reentry of a Removed Alien after his guilty plea.
According to court documents, on March 30, 2026, Hernandez-Sanchez was found by law enforcement in the Western District despite the fact that he had been previously removed from the United States multiple times. Hernandez-Sanchez also had a prior conviction for felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Hernandez-Sanchez admitted that he had again reentered the country without legal authorization.
“This significant sentence reflects the serious penalties that illegal aliens with prior felony convictions and removals from the United States will face if found in the Western District,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “The message this sentencing sends to felons who would violate our immigration laws is clear: the Western District has no place for you, and you will face significant prison time if you are found here.”
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Customs and Border Patrol and the Lake Charles Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney LaDonte A. Murphy with assistance from Legal Assistant Christy Angelle. 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.
