MEMPHIS, Tennessee – Antonio Naranjo Soria, a 48-year-old Mexican national and registered sex offender, has once again been taken into federal custody following a traffic stop in Memphis, Tennessee. Soria has twice been deported from the United States on sexual assault charges eight years ago.
What happened
The Memphis SAFE Task Force captured Antonio Naranjo Soria after a routine traffic stop. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that Soria is now in federal custody. This is the third time that Soria has been detained by US authorities after being convicted of sex crimes and other crimes.
Who is Antonio Naranjo Soria?
Antonio Naranjo Soria, 48, was convicted of rape in 2016 in Shelby County, Tennessee. He later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of sexual assault and was sentenced to three years and six months in the Shelby County Corrections Department beginning in February 2017. Following his release, he was added to the Tennessee sex offender registry, where his last known address was in Louisiana.
case details
Records show Soria was deported from the United States in 2018 and again in 2022. In addition to his sexual battery conviction, Shelby County court documents list prior convictions for cocaine possession, driving without a license and speeding in 2003 and 2004. Federal officials are monitoring Soria’s detention status to prevent further criminal activity.
Public and law enforcement response
The Memphis SAFE Task Force and ICE have stressed the importance of public safety and tracking registered sex offenders. Law enforcement officials have urged communities to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity involving individuals on the sex offender registry.
Official statement and next steps
Soria remains in ICE custody as federal officials determine next steps regarding his detention and possible deportation. Authorities have not given an exact timeline for legal proceedings, but his repeated deportations highlight the challenges of monitoring high-risk criminals in the US.
This story may be updated with more information as it becomes available.
