A Mexican man was indicted in Cincinnati Thursday after attempting to distribute drugs and illegally re-entering the United States for the ninth time, according to a press release from the Ohio Department of Justice.

Luis Tapia, 27, is indicted on reentry, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute, which carries a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and possessing more than 400 grams of fentanyl with the intent to distribute, which carries a potential maximum sentence of life in prison, according to the release.

Tapia attempted to escape police arrest by climbing out of a second-floor window and onto the roof of a Cincinnati residence on Sept. 13. According to the release, Tapia eventually retreated into the house and locked himself in a closet.

A special response team was called and agents forcibly entered the home and apprehended Tapia, the release states. He has remained in custody since.

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Tapia fled from law enforcement a month prior to this arrest during a routine traffic stop. Tapia identified himself as his brother – who is legitimately in the country under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy – during the traffic stop before fleeing.

According to the release, Tapia has been removed to Mexico nine times between 2012 and 2019 and is ineligible to remain the the United States due to his previous felony convictions.

After each deportation Tapia has illegally reentered the United States, the release states. He was most recently deported on April 25, 2018. Investigators have uncovered a photograph of Tapia illegally reentering the country at a border checkpoint.

Tapia's case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Cincinnati and Norwood police departments and special assistant United States attorney Kelly K. Rossi, who is prosecuting the case.