A 37-year-old Mexican citizen who was in the United States illegally has been sentenced to 51 months in federal prison for drug trafficking, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Wisconsin.

Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson handed down the sentence on Wednesday to Eli Torres-Banos, who had pleaded guilty on January 14 to possession of more than five kilograms of cocaine with intent to distribute.

Torres-Banos was initially indicted in November 2023 for illegally reentering the U.S. after being deported. A warrant was issued for his arrest, and he was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Ixonia, Wisconsin.

Following his arrest, Torres-Banos made a phone call to a person he identified as his wife. However, an ICE agent overheard him speaking in Spanish about drugs hidden in a vehicle’s trunk. This prompted the Jefferson County Drug Task Force to search the car, where they discovered approximately 8.5 kilograms of cocaine.

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Prior to his sentencing for drug trafficking, Torres-Banos had already been sentenced to one year in federal prison on June 4, 2024, for illegal reentry into the U.S. His latest sentence reflects his criminal history and the severity of his drug-related offenses.

No additional details were provided by authorities regarding further investigations or potential accomplices.

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