PICKENS, S.C. – A man with a lengthy criminal history, including multiple drunk driving offenses, has been indicted for re-entering the United States illegally after being deported three times.
Sergio Ixtepan-Toto, 36, was arrested on December 6, 2024, in Pickens, South Carolina, for driving under the influence. According to reports, Ixtepan-Toto nearly crashed into another vehicle while driving on West Main Street. When officers attempted to pull him over, he ran a stop sign and continued driving until he was stopped in a store parking lot. During the traffic stop, police found multiple open beer cans in his vehicle and said he failed a field sobriety test.
Ixtepan-Toto, a Mexican national, had an identification card from Mexico, but no legal authorization to be in the U.S. He was released on local charges but was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on December 9.
An affidavit filed by an ICE officer revealed that Ixtepan-Toto had been deported three times: in May 2020, November 2022, and February 2024. The document also stated that there was no record of him seeking permission to re-enter the U.S. after each deportation.
Ixtepan-Toto’s criminal background includes multiple charges in South Carolina dating back to 2008, such as driving without a license, domestic violence, indecent exposure, and four prior DUI arrests.
This latest arrest highlights ongoing concerns about illegal immigration and criminal activity, as Ixtepan-Toto’s repeated re-entry into the U.S. demonstrates gaps in border enforcement.
