Honduran Sex Offender Sentenced in Del Rio to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Re-Entry into the U.S.

DEL RIO, Texas – An illegal alien and convicted sex offender from Honduras was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 20 years in prison for attempting to enter the United States illegally, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. According to court documents, on Nov. 17, 2025, Noel Jose Funez-Antunez, 41, was encountered by U.S. Border Patrol agents near Eagle Pass. Funez-Antunez was questioned regarding his citizenship status, and he freely admitted to being a citizen of Honduras, and without legal permission to be present in the United States. He was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Eagle Pass South Border Patrol Station for processing. Further investigation into his criminal history revealed that Funez-Antunez was previously convicted of kidnapping, illegal re-entry into the United States, and sexual assault. “This is the message that we need to send to anyone who is thinking of coming into the United States illegally,” said U.S. Attorney Simmons. “Here we have an illegal alien who has already been convicted multiple times in our country, who thought he would be able to sneak in and live a life of freedom. He instead was met by federal agents and Lady Justice, and will spend the next two decades in federal prison before he’s deported yet again.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Nallely Duarte prosecuted the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Shilling handled the sentencing. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. ###