Executive Summary
- Edwin Joel Martinez-Cruz pleaded guilty to illegally reentering the U.S. after a 2022 deportation.
- The defendant was convicted of child trafficking after his illegal return to the country.
- Prosecutors are seeking a maximum sentence of two years in federal prison under Operation Take Back America.
- Sentencing is scheduled for January 15, 2026, in Pensacola.
PENSACOLA, Fla. – A Nicaraguan national previously convicted of human trafficking involving a minor has pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally reentering the United States following his 2022 deportation, the Department of Justice announced Thursday.
Edwin Joel Martinez-Cruz, 38, admitted before a federal judge that he returned to the U.S. less than one year after being formally removed. According to court records cited by prosecutors, Martinez-Cruz was deported following an immigration judge’s order but bypassed border security to reenter the country shortly thereafter. Following his illegal return, he was convicted of human trafficking charges involving a child.
U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin emphasized the priority placed on such cases by federal law enforcement. "This criminal illegal alien thought he could repeatedly violate our nation’s laws without consequence. Wrong," Heekin stated. "My office stands ready to aggressively prosecute serial offenders like this defendant to ensure he is kept off our streets."
The prosecution is being managed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brooke DiSalvo as part of Operation Take Back America. This nationwide initiative is designed to combat illegal immigration and dismantle transnational criminal organizations operating within U.S. borders. Martinez-Cruz faces a maximum statutory penalty of two years in federal prison, after which he will be subject to removal from the country.
Judicial Sentencing & Immigration Enforcement
The guilty plea by Martinez-Cruz underscores the Department of Justice’s strategy to prioritize the prosecution of foreign nationals with serious criminal records who violate immigration orders. Sentencing is scheduled for January 15, 2026, before U.S. District Judge T. Kent Wetherell II at the Pensacola courthouse. While Martinez-Cruz has admitted to the offenses in this specific case, it remains a fundamental principle of the legal system that all individuals charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
