Two Mexican nationals have been sentenced to federal prison for unlawfully reentering the United States, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Raymundo Pecina-Lopez, 43, admitted guilt in his case, while Samuel Moreno-Soto, 38, pleaded guilty on December 9, 2025. U.S. District Judge Charles Eskridge sentenced Pecina-Lopez to 39 months in prison. U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison imposed an 18-month sentence for Moreno-Soto.
Both men are not U.S. citizens and are expected to face removal proceedings after serving their sentences. During court hearings, additional evidence was presented regarding their criminal backgrounds.
Pecina-Lopez and Moreno-Soto both have prior convictions for assault of a family member and narcotics offenses. Pecina-Lopez also has convictions for driving while intoxicated and illegally carrying a weapon. Moreno-Soto’s record includes convictions for harboring aliens and illegal reentry.
Pecina-Lopez was first ordered removed from the country in September 2009 and returned illegally once since then. Moreno-Soto was initially removed in June 2014 but returned twice without authorization.
Both individuals remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility.
The investigation was conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Hostetter prosecuted both cases with assistance from Special AUSA Carrie Law (Pecina-Lopez) and AUSA Amanda Alum (Moreno-Soto).
“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, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.”
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas operates under the Department of Justice with offices in Houston, Galveston, Corpus Christi, Laredo, McAllen, and Brownsville across 43 counties with a population exceeding nine million people. The office employs more than 200 attorneys who focus on prosecuting federal crimes and handling civil cases on behalf of the government.
Former leaders at this office include Alamdar Hamdani (2022-2025) and Ryan Patrick as noted on its official history page.
