Publisher’s Note: The following press release was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.
A Honduran man previously convicted of kidnapping, illegal re-entry into the United States and sexual assault has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after attempting to illegally re-enter the United States.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas, Noel Jose Funez-Antunez, 41, was sentenced in federal court in Del Rio after pleading guilty to illegal re-entry.
Court documents state that on Nov. 17, 2025, U.S. Border Patrol agents encountered Funez-Antunez near Eagle Pass. During questioning, he admitted he was a citizen of Honduras and did not have legal permission to be in the United States. Agents took him into custody without incident and transported him to the Eagle Pass South Border Patrol Station for processing.
Authorities said a review of his criminal history showed prior convictions for kidnapping, illegal re-entry into the United States and sexual assault.
“This is the message that we need to send to anyone who is thinking of coming into the United States illegally,” U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons said in a statement. “Here we have an illegal alien who has already been convicted multiple times in our country, who thought he would be able to sneak in and live a life of freedom. He instead was met by federal agents and Lady Justice, and will spend the next two decades in federal prison before he’s deported yet again.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nallely Duarte prosecuted the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Shilling handled the sentencing.
The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative targeting illegal immigration, transnational criminal organizations and violent crime.
