Tucson, Arizona - Border Patrol agents from the Tucson Station apprehended a Mexican man Tuesday morning for illegally entering the United States and later discovered he is a convicted felon and sex offender.

While processing 50-year-old Gerardo Lopez-Armenta, agents conducted a records check and learned he was convicted in Superior Court of Arizona, Pima County, for sexual assault. Agents also found two prior convictions for re-entering the U.S. as an aggravated felon.

Lopez is now in federal custody pending prosecution for criminal immigration violations.

All individuals apprehended by the Border Patrol undergo criminal history checks using biometrics to ensure illegal immigrants with criminal histories are positively identified.