Wellton agents stop convicted felon from illegally crossing the border for seventh time

Agents say man has already been deported six times

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents on Sunday stopped a convicted felon from re-entering the country illegally for at least the seventh time.

Yuma Chief Agent Chris Clem says 45-year-old Fermin Barraza-Vega crossed the border Sunday morning near Wellton. Clem says he was part of a nine-person group intercepted about 30-miles south of Interstate 8.

The chief says a record check revealed a 2008 conviction for felony kidnapping out of Phoenix. Barraza-Vega was sentenced to seven-years in prison, and deported from the country upon his release.

Clem says the felon was last removed from the U.S. in March of 2019. It was the sixth time he had been deported.

Barraza-Vega will face federal charges and additional prison time.