Mexican national sentenced to 111 months in prison for illegal re-entry, brandishing a firearm

INDIANAPOLIS - A five-time deported criminal alien, who also brandished a firearm during a local robbery, was sentenced in federal court on Thursday to more than nine years in prison. This sentence was announced by Joseph H. Hogsett, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. The conviction and sentence resulted from an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Hector Tadeo-Martinez was sentenced Jan. 6 to 111 months in prison following his guilty plea to one count of illegally re-entering the United States after deportation and one count of brandishing a firearm in connection with a violent crime.

On or about Jan. 27, 2009, four males, including Tadeo-Martinez, used a firearm to rob Merry's Bakery located on West Michigan Rd. in Indianapolis. Video surveillance shows that the group drove a white Jeep Liberty to the bakery. One person remained in the Jeep, while Tadeo-Martinez and two others entered the bakery and proceeded to rob the establishment. A black pistol was brandished during the commission of this robbery. The subjects obtained about $100 from the store's cash register and an additional $100 from an employee's purse.

On Dec. 4, 2009, Tadeo-Martinez was arrested by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department for public intoxication and failure to identify. The Marion County Jail contacted ICE HSI which determined that Tadeo-Martinez had re-entered the United States unlawfully, had five prior deportations and a criminal history which included convictions for theft and aggravated assault.

After Tadeo-Martinez was turned over to federal authorities, ICE HSI and ATF determined that Tadeo-Martinez participated in the bakery robbery. Three other men have cases pending in district court in connection with the robbery.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley P. Shepard, Southern District of Indiana, prosecuted the case. Tadeo-Martinez is subject to deportation after he completes his prison sentence.