FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
EDWIN FERNANDO TURCIOS-CERRATO PLEADS GUILTY IN U.S. FEDERAL COURT
Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Billings on October 23, 2007, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carolyn S. Ostby, EDWIN FERNANDO TURCIOS-CERRATO, a 25-year-old resident of Honduras, pled guilty to illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien. A sentencing date will be set later. He is currently detained.
In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
On September 5, 2007, TURCIOS-CERRATO was encountered an agent with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the bus depot in Billings. TURCIOS-CERRATO was identified as an alien and citizen of Honduras.
An analysis of his fingerprints found that TURCIOS-CERRATO had been previously deported from the United States on July 28, 2004, through Phoenix, Arizona,
Further review of immigration records revealed that TURCIOS-CERRATO did not have the consent of the Attorney General or his successor, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, to re-enter the United States after having been deported.
TURCIOS-CERRATO faces possible penalties of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia K. Hurd prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
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A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.
