FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, July 17, 2008
ELEAZAR SANCHEZ-HERRERA 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 July 17, 2008, before U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, ELEAZAR SANCHEZ-HERRERA, a 45-year-old citizen of Mexico, pled guilty to illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien. A sentencing date will be set at a later time. 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 19, 2008, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) came into contact with SANCHEZ-HERRERA at an apartment in Laurel. Upon contact with the agents, SANCHEZ-HERRERA stated that he was a citizen of Mexico, but had "application papers" allowing him to be in the United States legally.
An ICE agent was then contacted telephonically to speak with SANCHEZ-HERRERA, at which time he admitted that he was a citizen of Mexico and in the United States illegally. SANCHEZ-HERRERA was arrested and transported to the Yellowstone County Detention Facility.
On January 22, 2008, an analysis of SANCHEZ-HERRERA'S fingerprints identified him as an individual that had been removed from the United States on August 23, 1996, through Presidio, Texas.
Further review of immigration records revealed no evidence that SANCHEZ-HERRERA ever requested permission to apply for re-entry into the United States from the Attorney General of the United States, or his successor, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. after having been removed on August 23, 1996.
SANCHEZ-HERRERA faces possible penalties of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Seykora prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
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A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.
