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Mexican national sentenced for passport fraud and illegal reentry

Jan. 29, 2025-Joaquin Lineares-Rodriguez, a Mexican national, was sentenced Tuesday following his guilty plea to passport fraud and Illegal Reentry of a Removed Alien. This was Lineares-Rodriguez’s third conviction for Illegal Reentry into the United States.

According to court documents, Lineares-Rodriguez was charged with passport fraud following an attempt to gain a U.S. passport. The defendant made numerous false statements in his passport application. These false statements led to an investigation by agents with the Diplomatic Security Service, who investigate visa and passport fraud as a part of the Department of State. During the course of their investigation, agents learned that Lineares-Rodriguez had multiple prior deportations. Agents with Homeland Security assisted in the investigation.

Lineares-Rodriguez was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock to 18 months incarceration. Following his sentence, DHS and ICE will be notified and Lineares-Rodriguez will be taken into ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

Following the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner noted the importance of this prosecution, stating, “Illegal reentry into the United States, and using fraudulent passports to do so, will never be rewarded; these crimes will instead be met will the full prosecutorial powers of the Department of Justice and this office. The joint efforts by AUSA John Herzog, and the Departments of State and Homeland Security are to be commended and will serve as a template for success moving forward. Hopefully, a prison sentence will deter yet another illegal re-entry by this defendant.”

This case was investigated by the Diplomatic Security Service of the U.S. Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security. The case was prosecuted by AUSA John Herzog Jr.

Bob Bakken

Bob Bakken provides content for DeSoto County News and its social media channels. He is an award-winning broadcaster, along with being a reporter and photographer, and has done sports media relations work with junior and minor league hockey teams. Along with his reports on this website, you will find this veteran media member providing sports updates and high school football play-by-play on Rebel 95.3 FM Radio.