FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 06, 2008
SERGIO CORNEJO-ESPINOZA 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 Missoula on March 5, 2008, before U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy, SERGIO CORNEJO-ESPINOZA, age 29, pled guilty to illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien. Sentencing is set for July 2, 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 January 23, 2008, a Montana Highway Patrol officer encountered CORNEJO-ESPINOZA at the scene of a one-vehicle accident along Interstate 90 near Bozeman. When asked if he was a United States citizen or had lawful authority to be in the United States, CORNEJO-ESPINOZA stated that he was a citizen of Mexico, but had permission to be in the United States. He further stated that he was not in possession of any documentation confirming his status as a lawful U.S. resident.
A review of immigration records determined that CORNEJO-ESPINOZA did not have permission to be in the United States and had been deported on three prior occasions - (1) February 6, 2003, at San Luis, Arizona; (2) March 7, 2003, at San Luis, Arizona; and (3) May 26, 2004, at Nogales, Arizona. A further review found no evidence that CORNEJO-ESPINOZA had applied for or received permission to reenter the United States from either the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security or the Attorney General.
CORNEJO-ESPINOZA faces possible penalties of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Racicot prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Montana Highway Patrol 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.
