NEWS RELEASE
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
WESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
John L. Brownlee United States Attorney Brian McGinn Public Affairs Specialist |
BB&T Building 310 1st Street, S.W., Room 906 Roanoke, Virginia 24011 (540) 857-2974 FAX (540) 857-2179 |
May 9, 2008
GUATEMALAN NATIONAL INDICTED FOR TRANSPORTING ILLEGAL ALIENS WITHIN THE UNITED STATES
United States Attorney John L. Brownlee announced today that Pedro Antonio Antonio Mateo, age 24, a citizen of Guatemala in the United States illegally, was indicted by a federal Grand Jury sitting in Roanoke, Virginia on charges related to the transportation of illegal aliens.
Mateo was charged in a one count indictment with transporting and moving illegal aliens within the United States by means of transportation for the purpose of financial gain. According to the indictment, Mateo showed a reckless disregard of the fact that certain aliens he was transporting, specifically seven adults males, had entered the United States illegally.
The investigation of the case began when a Virginia State Trooper conducted a traffic stop of a GMC suburban along Interstate 81 north in Botetourt County. When the Trooper discovered a group of people inside the vehicle, agents from U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement were called to investigate the matter.
If convicted on all counts, the maximum penalty faced by Mateo is 10 years imprisonment and/or a fine of $250,000.
The investigation of the case was conducted by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and the Virginia State Police for the United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of Virginia. Assistant United States Attorney Jennie L. M. Waering is prosecuting the case.
A Grand Jury indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the government to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.