Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that Dery Joncarlos Zelaya-Zelaya, also known as “Dery Zelaya,” a 28-year-old from Honduras, has pleaded guilty to the charge of illegal re-entry of a removed alien. This plea was entered on July 1, 2025, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
Court documents reveal that Zelaya-Zelaya had been previously deported from the United States on May 13, 2022, and December 4, 2019. He did not have permission from either the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to return. Sentencing is scheduled for August 26, 2025 at 2 p.m., presided over by United States District Judge Susie Morgan.
Zelaya-Zelaya could face up to two years in prison, a fine reaching $250,000, up to one year of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson commended the efforts of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement Removal Operations for their role in this investigation. The prosecution is being led by Assistant United States Attorney Duane A. Evans from the General Crimes Unit.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America. This initiative uses resources from the Department of Justice to combat illegal immigration and dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators. It aligns with efforts from Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
