SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - A Mexican national was sentenced in federal court here today to more than 14 years in prison for illegally reentering the United States, and for participating in a conspiracy to distribute illegal drugs. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Bradley J. Schlozman, Western District of Missouri.

Rafael Rosales-Martinez, 54, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard E. Dorr this morning to 170 months in federal prison without parole.

Rosales-Martinez pleaded guilty Sept. 20 to unlawful presence in the United States by an aggravated felon following deportation, and to conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Rosales-Martinez admitted that he participated in a conspiracy with co-defendant Rosa Garcia-Valenzuela, 31, also a citizen of Mexico, and others to distribute between 25 and 50 grams of cocaine in Taney County from Oct. 12, 2004 to Aug. 1, 2005.

ICE had previously deported Rosales-Martinez following his earlier convictions for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possessing heroin for sale, and possessing cocaine for sale. Rosales-Martinez was found in Taney County on Aug. 1, 2005. It is a felony to re-enter the United States after having been deported. For criminal aliens deported based on their previous aggravated felonies, re-entry to the United States is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Judge Dorr commented that he sentenced Rosales-Martinez to the high end of the sentencing guidelines because of his ongoing criminal conduct, his serious criminal history, and his three formal deportations and 12 voluntary returns to Mexico.

Rosales-Martinez is now in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service awaiting designation to a Bureau of Prisons facility.

“Criminal aliens should especially take note of this 14-year prison sentence,� said Pete Baird, assistant special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Kansas City, Mo. “Illegally re-entering the United States after being deported carries a significant penalty.� Baird oversees the states of Missouri and Kansas.

Garcia-Valenzuela was sentenced to 366 days in federal prison without parole after pleading guilty to participating in the cocaine conspiracy. Garcia-Valenzuela sold cocaine to an undercover law enforcement officer on several occasions in 2004 and 2005, and introduced the undercover officer to Rosales-Martinez, her source of supply, in July 2005.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and COMET (the Combined Ozarks Multi-jurisdictional Enforcement Team).

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly R. Weber Dean, Western District of Missouri, prosecuted this case.

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