Darvin Nectali Moradel-Velasquez, age 40, pleaded guilty on April 9 to the charge of illegal reentry of a previously removed alien, according to an announcement from United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
Court documents show that Moradel-Velasquez was found in the Eastern District of Louisiana on December 31, 2025. He had previously been removed from the United States to Honduras on or about October 11, 2016. The case highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address illegal reentry and related offenses.
Moradel-Velasquez has a prior conviction for domestic abuse and child endangerment. Because of these past charges, he faces a sentencing enhancement. The maximum penalty includes up to ten years imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000, up to one year of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 2 before United States District Judge Carl J. Barbier.
The prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative that brings together resources from the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood program. According to the press release, “Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).”
U.S. Attorney Courcelle said he praised the work of U.S. Customs and Border Protection in investigating this matter. Special Assistant United States Attorney Frederick W. Veters Jr., of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.
