In Norfolk, man sent to prison after 5th deportation

By Tim McGlone
The Virginian-Pilot
© May 24, 2011

NORFOLK

An illegal immigrant with 24 convictions who has been thrown out of the country five times was sentenced Monday to 7½ years in prison following his latest conviction.

Ricardo Elvin Martinez, 47, of Guadalajara, Mexico, was caught here in September when a U.S. Customs officer found him sleeping in a shipping container on a cargo train that pulled into Norfolk International Terminals.

Martinez was sentenced in U.S. District Court after pleading guilty to illegally re-entering the country after he had been deported for having a felony conviction.

Martinez had been deported five times and was last removed in August 2009. His 24 convictions in five states include offenses for robbery, larceny and dealing cocaine. Four times he was caught near the Mexican border.

"Each time he turned right back around and unlawfully reentered the country, once within a matter of days," the U.S. attorney's office said in a court filing. Prosecutors asked for a nine-year prison term.

"Seemingly, his only purpose here has been to violate our laws and terrorize our citizens," the filing said.

Martinez's attorney argued for leniency, citing his client's physical and mental problems stemming from being shot in the back of the head six years ago. The bullet remains in his skull, the attorney said in a court filing.

http://hamptonroads.com