Man acquitted of Utah murder deported to Belize

A man recently acquitted of murder in a Salt Lake City shooting has been deported to Belize by federal immigration officials.

Kenneth Lewellyn Flowers, 36, was escorted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to his home country last week. He was turned over to Belize authorities for questioning related to gang activities in that Central American country, an ICE press release said.

Flowers was deported after he was convicted in August of felony illegal reentry of a deported alien and possession of a firearm and ammunition by an illegal alien. He had been sentenced to two years in federal prison with credit for time served.

That conviction came after police had found a gun and ammunition on Flowers when they responded to a shooting in December 2010 in which Cisco M. Cross, 45, was killed.

Flowers was acquitted in September 2012 of the murder of Cross, after he contended he shot him in self defense. Flowers had been smoking crack when Cross came to his door. Flowers argued with Cross, and told police he fired three times when he saw him reach for a weapon. A BB gun was found unused in Cross' waistband.

Department of Homeland Security databases indicate Flowers had been removed from the United States twice previously.

"Criminal aliens disrupt our communities and menace law-abiding Utahns," said Thomas E. Feely, field office director for ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations in Salt Lake City. "ICE is using its unique immigration enforcement authorities to protect our communities from criminal aliens who pose a threat to public safety."

ldavidson@sltrib.com