Four Mexican Nationals Charged with Illegal Reentry Following Prior Felony Convictions

LAS VEGAS, NV — The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada announced on Monday, April 6, 2026, that four Mexican nationals residing unlawfully in Las Vegas have been charged with illegally reentering the United States after previous deportations and felony convictions.

The defendants—identified as Laurentino Salvador Juarez-Martinez, Serguio Raudel Contreras-Torres, Brandon Castanon-Bautista, and Pablo Covarrubias-Islas—made their initial court appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brenda N. Weksler. Each face one count of being a deported alien found in the United States.

Background and Criminal History

According to federal prosecutors and court documents:

Serguio Raudel Contreras-Torres was remanded to ICE custody on April 2 after serving a 14-to-48-month state prison sentence for possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell.
Brandon Castanon-Bautista was transferred to ICE custody from the Clark County Detention Center on March 28. He had been arrested in late 2025 for multiple high-level felonies, including robbery with a deadly weapon and burglary while in possession of a firearm. He has been deported twice previously.
Laurentino Salvador Juarez-Martinez faces the steepest potential penalty, with a maximum statutory sentence of 10 years in prison if convicted. The other three defendants face up to two years.

Operation Take Back America

These prosecutions are part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative specifically targeting illegal reentry by individuals with criminal backgrounds. The investigation was led by the ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office.

Preliminary hearings for all four men are scheduled for April 20, 2026, at the federal courthouse in downtown Las Vegas.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nv/pr/four-illegal-aliens-prior-felony-convictions-and-multiple-deportations-charged-illegally