Twice-deported Honduran, thrice busted for San Francisco drug dealing, given 12 months for federal immigration offense
A twice-deported Honduran, busted three times for fentanyl trafficking in San Francisco, was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment today for an immigration offense at the city’s federal courthouse.
Antony Banegas Cruz earlier pleaded guilty to illegal reentry having been removed from the U.S. in 2016 and 2019.
“This is an individual who has not taken to heart the fact the he cannot come illegally into the United States to commit drug offenses – which is a nice way of saying ‘sell poison in our community to U.S. citizens,’ ” said U.S. District Judge James Donato this afternoon.
Banegas Cruz was arrested for fentanyl dealing three blocks from San Francisco City Hall on July 9 2025 and released on his own recognizance two days later by Judge Gregory Syren.
Three months earlier he had been arrested by the highway patrol while driving to San Francisco on the Bay Bridge and found to have fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine in his car.
After Banegas Cruz was released immigration officials’ attention was drawn to his presence in the country and he was arrested at the Hall of Justice in October 2025 as he attended a court hearing.
Banegas Cruz has graced San Francisco with his presence for years – also being arrested in February 2022, in the SOMA district, for dealing fentanyl and other drugs – but protected by city leaders’ insistence on ‘sanctuary’ rules and unwillingness to cooperate with immigration enforcement.
His travels further afield have been eventful. During a brief stint in Portland OR, the court was told, he was shot eight times and then arrested for fentanyl trafficking.
Today in courtroom 11 of San Francisco federal courthouse Judge Donato told government and defense attorneys that their jointly-proposed eight month sentence was not sufficient.
“I am struck by a couple of things in this case,” said the judge. “First this is not the defendant’s first brush with criminal convictions for drug offenses. He’s had two prior convictions…despite all that, and removal for those offenses, he returned to the United States and has since been arrested…several times on drug related offenses including the cases pending in the state of Oregon and the state of California.”
He imposed a sentence of 12 months and one day.
The judge warned Banegas Cruz, who has spent around seven months in custody, that he would be deported after he has served his sentence.
Banegas Cruz’ attorney told the court that her client has four children, three of whom were born in the United States.
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