FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, December 03, 2007
CAYETANO CASTILLO-CASTILLO 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 Great Falls on December 3, 2007, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, CAYETANO CASTILLO-CASTILLO, age 30, pled guilty to illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien. Sentencing is set for March 20, 2008. 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 October 19, 2007, CASTILLO-CASTILLO and three other individuals were encountered by employees of the Montana Department of Transportation (MDOT) at the Armington Junction station located approximately 20 miles east of Great Falls on Highway 87. The MDOT employees believed that three of the individuals were in the United States unlawfully and contacted the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office for assistance.
On October 19, 2007, records checks were completed on the three individuals. It was determined that all three individuals were in the United States unlawfully.
The records also reflected that CASTILLO-CASTILLO is a citizen of Mexico and had been previously deported from the United States through the Paso El Norte Port of Entry, El Paso, Texas, on April 13, 2006
Further review of the records revealed no evidence that CASTILLO-CASTILLO ever requested permission to apply for re-entry into the United States or received permission to re-enter from the Attorney General of the United States, or his successor, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
CASTILLO-CASTILLO faces possible penalties of 2 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 1 year supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney George F. Darragh prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Montana Department of Transportation and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
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A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.
