Federal judge sentences Mexican national to two years in prison

A 25-year-old man from Mexico faces a two-year federal prison term following a guilty plea to illegal reentry. The sentence represents the statutory maximum for the offense and was announced by federal prosecutors in the Northern District of Florida.

John P. Heekin, the United States Attorney for the district, stated that the case demonstrates the necessity of enforcing immigration laws. He noted that the underlying state crime was preventable and cited the Department of Justice's commitment to removing individuals with criminal records from the country.

Court documents show that Pablo Gomez-Sarmiento was removed from the United States in January 2020. He returned to the country unlawfully and was arrested in Alachua County in 2024. State officials charged him with impregnating a 15-year-old girl after he observed her exiting a school bus and knew she was under the age of 18.

Gomez-Sarmiento was convicted in 2025 and sentenced to state prison for that offense. While he was serving his state sentence, Immigration and Customs Enforcement identified his presence in the United States and initiated the federal criminal charge.

Matthew Elliston, director of the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Miami Field Office, said that individuals who re-enter after removal and target children will not find a place to hide. He added that the agency will not tolerate those who defy immigration laws and exploit victims.

The case was investigated by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Gainesville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Tyler Fleming prosecuted the matter as part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative aimed at using Department of Justice resources to address illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations.