Raul Torres-Olivarez, 47, from Mexico, who was illegally residing in the United States pled guilty on August 19, 2026, in federal court in Sioux City.
Evidence at the plea hearing, showed that on February 4, 2026, law enforcement had information that Torres-Olivarez was unlawfully in the United States and was residing in Sioux City, Iowa. Immigration officials observed an individual matching the description of Torres-Olivarez leaving a residence and entering a vehicle. Officers attempted to traffic stop the vehicle driven by Torres-Olivarez, but he failed to immediately stop. The officers were operating in unmarked vehicles, and Torres-Olivarez’s vehicle struck one of the unmarked law enforcement vehicles. After Torres-Olivarez’s vehicle stopped, he attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended.
Torres-Olivarez was previously removed from the United States to Mexico on or about December 1, 2023.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Torres-Olivarez remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Torres-Olivarez faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl .
The case file number is 26-4006. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office — Northern District of Iowa — U.S. Department of Justice press release.