Erik Santana-Garcia, a Mexican national previously deported from the United States multiple times, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting two minors and illegally reentering the country. The 34-year-old pleaded guilty in March and was sentenced July 30 in federal court. His sentence includes no parole and will be followed by lifetime supervised release. Immigration authorities said he will be deported to Mexico after completing the prison term.
| 1) | Federal sentence and convictions |
| 2) | The interstate transportation case |
| 3) | Evidence involving a second minor |
| 4) | Prior deportations and law enforcement action |
| 5) | Deportation after the prison term |
Federal sentence and convictions
Erik Santana-Garcia, 34, of Salt Lake City, Utah, was sentenced July 30 to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The sentence covers interstate transportation of a minor with intent to engage in illegal sexual activity, possession of child pornography and illegal reentry into the United States after a prior deportation.
He pleaded guilty March 3, according to court documents. After serving the prison sentence, he will remain under supervised release for life. The case was prosecuted in the Western District of Missouri because the alleged interstate movement ended in Oak Grove, Missouri.
The interstate transportation case
Prosecutors said Erik Santana-Garcia left Utah with a minor on Nov. 10, 2024, intending to transport the child to New York for illegal sexual activity. The trip crossed state lines and triggered the federal transportation charge.
Oak Grove police located Erik Santana-Garcia and the minor two days later, on Nov. 12, 2024. The local police response led to his arrest and the subsequent federal investigation. Homeland Security Investigations participated in examining evidence connected to the case.
Evidence involving a second minor
Investigators with Homeland Security Investigations found child pornography depicting a second minor on a phone seized from Erik Santana-Garcia when he was arrested, prosecutors said. That discovery resulted in a separate federal possession charge in addition to the transportation offense.
The case therefore involved allegations concerning two minors: one whom prosecutors said was transported across state lines, and another depicted in material found on the defendant’s phone. Officials did not provide additional details about the identities of the minors.
Prior deportations and law enforcement action
Erik Santana-Garcia had previously been deported and removed from the United States multiple times. Prosecutors said his most recent removal before the current case occurred March 6, 2019. He later reentered the country illegally, leading to the federal illegal-reentry charge.
The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations offices in Kansas City, Salt Lake City and Billings, along with Oak Grove police. Immigration and Customs Enforcement credited those agencies with locating and arresting him after the 2024 incident.
“Now, Erik Santana-Garcia’s going to spend the next 20 years in a federal prison because ICE HSI Kansas City, ICE HSI Salt Lake City, ICE HSI Billings and local police from Oak Grove, Missouri, nabbed him,” Immigration and Customs Enforcement wrote in a public statement.
Deportation after the prison term
Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Erik Santana-Garcia will be deported to Mexico after he completes the 20-year federal sentence. The agency also said the case reflected its enforcement focus on people accused or convicted of serious crimes who are unlawfully present in the United States.
The criminal sentence will be completed before immigration authorities carry out the removal. His lifetime supervised release is part of the federal court sentence, while the planned deportation is an immigration consequence tied to his status and prior removals.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Erik Santana-Garcia was sentenced to 20 years without parole. |
| 2 | The charges included interstate transportation of a minor, possession of child pornography and illegal reentry. |
| 3 | Police located him with a minor in Oak Grove, Missouri, in November 2024. |
| 4 | He had been deported from the United States multiple times before the latest case. |
| 5 | ICE said he will be deported to Mexico after his prison sentence. |
Summary
Erik Santana-Garcia received a 20-year federal sentence after pleading guilty to charges involving the interstate transportation of a minor for illegal sexual activity, possession of child pornography and illegal reentry. Authorities said the investigation began after Oak Grove police found him with a minor in November 2024. He will be subject to lifetime supervised release and is expected to be deported to Mexico after leaving federal custody.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Erik Santana-Garcia?
Erik Santana-Garcia is a 34-year-old Mexican national from Salt Lake City, Utah, who had previously been deported from the United States multiple times.
What sentence did he receive?
He received 20 years in federal prison without parole, followed by lifetime supervised release.
What led to his arrest?
Oak Grove police located him with a minor in Missouri on Nov. 12, 2024, two days after he left Utah with the child while allegedly intending to travel to New York.
What will happen after his release?
Immigration and Customs Enforcement said he will be deported to Mexico after completing his federal prison sentence.
