Jacksonville – Reberiano Santana-Ayala (35, Mexico) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger to the statutory maximum of two years in federal prison for illegally reentering the United States after previously being deported. Santana-Ayala pleaded guilty in May 2026. After serving this federal prison sentence, Santana-Ayala will be deported and removed back to Mexico. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, Santana-Ayala is a citizen of Mexico. In 2019, Santana-Ayala was charged and pleaded no contest to domestic violence charges, associated with two different women, in Putnam County. He was subsequently removed from the United States by immigration authorities and returned to Mexico. After he was removed, Santana-Ayala illegally reentered the United States. On September 2, 2023, Santana-Ayala was found voluntarily back in the United States during a traffic stop in Putnam County. During that encounter, Santana-Ayala provided a false name to law enforcement and has at least seven known aliases that he has used when in the United States. Santana-Ayala was subsequently convicted in state court in connection with violating the terms of probation issued in connection with his prior domestic battery charges. Record checks confirmed that Santana-Ayala had never applied to U.S. immigration authorities for permission to lawfully reenter the United States after his removal. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard L. Lasseter.