Mexican national convicted of attempted carjacking in Palatine now faces federal illegal immigration charge

A Mexican national who was convicted of a 2023 attempted carjacking in Palatine and possessing a weapon in jail is now facing federal charges for illegally reentering the U.S. after being deported in 2020.

Federal prosecutors said Hector Daniel Gamboa-Montalvo, 30, faces 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted of the illegal reentry charge.

Gamboa-Montalvo was living in Palatine in 2020 when he was deported, authorities said.

He illegally returned sometime afterward and was charged in connection with an attempted carjacking in Palatine in 2023. He was sentenced to five years in prison in that case in 2025 and has been serving it at the Shawnee Correctional Center downstate.

While awaiting trial on the attempted carjacking charge, Gamboa-Montalvo picked up an additional charge after being found with “a dangerous weapon” in the Cook County jail. He was given a four-year prison sentence to be served concurrently to the carjacking sentence, according to court records.

Gamboa-Montalvo waived his right to a detention hearing on the federal charge and is now in federal custody. He also faces deportation again in convicted.