PENSACOLA — A 33-year-old Honduran illegal alien previously deported for a violent felony was sentenced to fourteen months in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegal reentry, United States Attorney John P. Heekin announced.
Franklin David Zelaya-Funez was deported from the United States in 2021 after a conviction for felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without the intent to kill. He is also the subject of a permanent domestic violence injunction. Federal authorities found him back in the country in June 2025.
“This criminal illegal alien previously committed a serious violent felony while unlawfully present in our country, and despite being deported after that prior offense he illegally re-entered our country yet again. Enough is enough,” Heekin said. He added that President Donald J. Trump and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche “have made clear through Operation Take Back America that the safety of our communities is not negotiable.”
Homeland Security Investigations Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno called the case a reflection of federal resolve. “This case underscores our unwavering commitment to protecting American communities from individuals who repeatedly disregard our laws and pose a threat to public safety,” Ingegno said. “The United States will not tolerate the standard of violence seen in other countries around the world, and we are resolute in removing weapons from those who cannot legally possess them. HSI, alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue every legal measure to keep our communities safe and uphold the rule of law.”
The case was investigated by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brooke DiSalvo in the Northern District of Florida. It falls under Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to combat illegal immigration and dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations.
Deportation proceedings against Zelaya-Funez will commence following the conclusion of his federal sentence.