Previously Deported Illegal Alien Who Went on a Philadelphia Crime Spree Sentenced Today for Illegal Re-entry after Deportation

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced today that Franklin Renan Euceda, 29, a Honduran citizen, was sentenced today to 21 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to illegal re-entry after deportation.

Euceda was originally deported from the United States in 2009.  Euceda re-entered the country illegally very soon afterward, according to an aunt who testified at his sentencing hearing.

Beginning in May 2016, Euceda went on a crime spree that culminated in charges of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.  First, on May 10, 2016, Philadelphia police arrested Euceda on charges of selling and delivering cocaine; he was released on bail.  Later that same month, on May 27, 2016, Philadelphia police arrested him again, this time for possessing crack cocaine with intent to deliver.  Again, Euceda was released on bail.  Then, on October 29, 2016, he was arrested a third time, this time on charges of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.  According to the police report, Euceda and another man got into a heated argument with a security guard at a night club.  After the argument, Euceda and his co-conspirator got into a car, and as Euceda drove toward the club, his co-conspirator rolled down the window and opened fire at the security guard. 

Euceda eventually pleaded guilty in both drug cases and to the attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder charges.  Additionally, he was charged by federal indictment in May 2017 with one count of illegal reentry after deportation.  He is currently serving a state sentence of 11½ - 23 months’ imprisonment.

“The chronology of events that took place in this case tells an all too familiar story,” explained U.S. Attorney McSwain.  “Euceda, a previously deported illegal alien, returned to the United States illegally and engaged in a slew of serious crimes, enabled by an arrest-and-release cycle that occurred at the local level.  His pattern of lawlessness speaks for itself:  he flouted the immigration laws; he sold cocaine; he possessed crack cocaine with an intent to sell it; and he conspired to commit murder and attempted to commit murder.  These crimes never should have occurred because Euceda had no right to be in the country in the first place.  The sentence today ensures that Euceda is punished to the fullest extent of the laws he chose to ignore.” 

U.S. Attorney McSwain continued, “The sentence also confirms that this Office will continue to hold every person accountable who violates federal law – no matter who you are or where you come from.  That is the essence of the rule of law.  Any other approach simply encourages a culture of lawlessness that jeopardizes the safety of our community and makes a mockery of the law.”

“ICE is focused on smart, effective immigration enforcement that prioritizes the removal of criminal aliens like Mr. Euceda,” said Simona L. Flores, field office director for the Philadelphia Field Office. “ERO Philadelphia will continue safeguarding the security of our nation by diligently pursuing criminal prosecution and the removal of criminal aliens.”

The case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (“ICE”), and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Dubnoff.