Previously Deported Following A Felony Attempted Rape Conviction Involving A Child, Samuel Sotero Ambrocio-Vicente Was Apprehended By Federal Agents During A Targeted Enforcement Operation In Albany

Sunday, March 15, 2026, 8:00 A.M. ET. 5 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

ALBANY, NY.- A Guatemalan national previously deported from the United States after being convicted of attempting to rape a minor has admitted in federal court that he illegally reentered the country, federal authorities announced.

     Samuel Sotero Ambrocio-Vicente, 34, pleaded guilty in federal court to unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed following a felony conviction. The announcement was made by First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

     According to federal prosecutors and court records, Ambrocio-Vicente’s prior criminal conviction stems from a 2020 case in Montgomery County, New York. On February 4, 2020, he pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court to attempted rape in the second degree, a felony offense involving a victim under the age of 15.

     Under New York law, second-degree rape applies when an adult engages in sexual intercourse with a person less than 15 years old. Attempted rape in the second degree carries serious felony penalties and is classified as a sex offense involving a minor.

     Shortly after entering that guilty plea, Ambrocio-Vicente was ordered removed from the United States. Federal officials confirmed that on February 12, 2020, immigration authorities formally deported him to Guatemala.

     However, according to prosecutors, Ambrocio-Vicente later unlawfully returned to the United States without obtaining legal permission to do so.

     Federal law prohibits individuals who have been removed following certain felony convictions, particularly crimes involving violence or sexual offenses, from reentering the country without authorization from the U.S. government.

     Authorities say Ambrocio-Vicente was located nearly five years after his removal.

     On December 18, 2025, officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) apprehended him during targeted immigration enforcement operations in Albany, New York. The operation was conducted as part of ongoing federal efforts aimed at identifying individuals who had previously been removed from the United States after committing serious crimes and later returned unlawfully.

     Following his arrest, Ambrocio-Vicente was interviewed by federal officials. During that interview, according to prosecutors, he acknowledged that he had not received permission or legal authorization to reenter the United States after his 2020 deportation.

     The case was subsequently prosecuted in federal court, where Ambrocio-Vicente entered a guilty plea to illegal reentry after removal, a federal felony offense.

     Under federal law, individuals who reenter the United States after deportation, particularly when the removal followed a serious felony conviction, can face substantial criminal penalties.

     Ambrocio-Vicente is scheduled to be sentenced on July 8, 2026.

     At that time, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to three years, according to federal authorities.

     Following completion of any prison sentence, Ambrocio-Vicente will also face additional immigration proceedings that could again result in deportation from the United States, federal officials said.

     A federal judge will determine the final sentence after considering several factors, including the applicable federal statute, the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and the circumstances of the offense.

     In announcing the guilty plea, First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III emphasized the seriousness of the case and the importance of immigration enforcement targeting previously removed offenders.

     “Samuel Sotero Ambrocio-Vicente was removed from the United States after attempting to rape a child, yet he brazenly returned in violation of federal law,” Sarcone said in a statement.

     “Individuals who commit serious crimes and then defy a lawful removal order have no place in this country. Cases like this make clear why the United States must maintain strong border security and strict immigration enforcement to prevent previously removed offenders from illegally reentering and putting our communities at risk. HSI’s targeted enforcement operations catch people like this, who belong as far away from our country as they can get.”

     The investigation and enforcement action were conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, both components of the Department of Homeland Security responsible for enforcing federal immigration and criminal laws related to transnational crime.

     Federal prosecutors noted that a defendant’s guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. However, by entering a guilty plea, Ambrocio-Vicente admitted the essential elements of the offense, thereby eliminating the need for a jury trial.

Editor’s Note:

This article was written by Art Fletcher, Executive Editor, and is based on information released by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York and federal law enforcement authorities. A guilty plea is an admission of criminal conduct in federal court; however, sentencing is determined by a federal judge after consideration of statutory penalties, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other legal factors.

Englebrook Independent News reports on criminal proceedings based on verified court filings and official statements and does not independently determine guilt or innocence.