three mexican nationals arrested on immigration and drug possession charges
Anchorage, Alaska – United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today, that on May 25, 2011, Isaias Velazquez-Lopez, pled guilty in federal court to a misdemeanor charge of simple possession of cocaine, and Ruben Macias-Franco, and Antonio Rubio-Carranza were both arraigned on felony informations for reentry of a removed alien. All three men are Mexican nationals from Jalisco, Mexico.
Velazquez-Lopez, 30, pled guilty to a single count of simple possession of cocaine before United States Magistrate Judge Leslie C. Longenbaugh.
In connection with the guilty plea, Assistant United States Attorney Jack S. Schmidt advised the court that Velazquez-Lopez was contacted on May 16, 2011, by Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) agents who were told by Velazquez-Lopez that he was a Mexican national who was unlawfully in the United States. A search of Velazquez-Lopez person revealed he was in possession of three grams of cocaine and $1,222 in U.S. currency. Velazquez-Lopez was sentenced to time served and will be detained until he is deported back to Mexico.
Additionally, Schmidt arraigned Ruben Macias-Franco, 39, and Antonio Rubio-Carranza, 31, on a felony information charging both with reentry of a removed alien, and the law provides for a maximum
total sentence of two years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under federal sentencing statutes, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense(s) and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation leading to the charges in these cases.
An information is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
