Mexican National Indicted for Illegal Reentry After Six Prior Removals, a Federal Firearms Conviction, and Three Illegal Reentry Felony Convictions

HONOLULU, Hawaii – Acting United States Attorney Kenneth M. Sorenson announced today that a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Navor Salas Cruz, 52, of Mexico, charging him with being an illegal alien present in the United States after having been previously convicted of a felony and removed from the United States.

According to a previously filed criminal complaint, Salas Cruz has been removed to Mexico at least six times and has three felony convictions for illegally reentering the United States. In 2018, he was convicted in the  District of Hawaii for illegal reentry and illegally possessing firearms and ammunition as a felon. He was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison. After serving his sentence, he was removed to Mexico in March 2020. He later reentered the United States illegally and was arrested on Kauai in February 2025.

If convicted of the charged offense, Salas Cruz would face up to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

The charge in the indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.

This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Darren W.K. Ching.