Sioux City, IA (Northwestiowanow.com) — A man arrested in Buena Vista County on drug charges has been sentenced in federal court for being in the United States illegally.

Martinez De Escobar-Hernandez was charged in February of 2024 for possession of cocaine with the invent to deliver. He was convicted and placed on probation. In September the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office started an investigation and determined Escobar-Hernandez had already been deported for illegal entry in 2019 and had snuck back into the United States again.

In December plead guilty to one count of illegal re-entry. He was sentenced Wednesday to 20 months in prison and remains in custody of the U.S. Marshal’s office pending his assignment to a federal facility.