CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. – A Guatemalan man has been sentenced to four years in prison for illegally reentering the United States after previously serving time for charges that included vehicular manslaughter, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Jose Gonzalez Flores, 33, violated a court agreement that prohibited him from reentering the U.S. after serving a previous prison sentence and being deported to Guatemala in 2022. He had previously been sentenced to 20 years in prison, with all but three-and-a-half years suspended, after causing a car crash that resulted in the death of a four-year-old child in 2018 while in the U.S. illegally.

After the crash, Gonzalez Flores fled the scene and was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter and drug possession. Following his sentence, he was deported to Guatemala in January 2022 and ordered not to reenter the U.S. without proper admission, inspection, or parole.

Despite the court order, Gonzalez Flores was found to have illegally reentered the U.S. a year later and was subsequently sentenced to four years in prison. The case underscores the issue of immigration enforcement and the challenges in preventing individuals from illegally reentering the country.

The DOJ’s prosecution of Gonzalez Flores highlights the consequences for those who violate immigration laws and the impact of their actions on the communities they reenter. The case serves as a reminder of the complexity and ongoing efforts to address illegal immigration and repeat offenders who disregard court orders.