Two Illegal Aliens Charged With Immigration Violations

     The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), announced today that separate criminal charges were filed today against two illegal aliens.

     Juan Torres-Garcia, age 33, in the United States illegally, was charged in a one-count indictment by a federal grand jury in Harrisburg today.  The indictment alleges that Torres-Garcia, previously arrested and deported from the United States in October 2008, knowingly and unlawfully reentered the United States and was apprehended in York County, Pennsylvania.

     If convicted, Torres-Garcia faces a maximum sentence of up to two years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

     Marcelo Barranco-Ramirez, age 25, was charged in a one-count indictment by a federal grand jury in Harrisburg today.  The indictment alleges that Barranco-Ramirez, an alien who has previously been arrested and deported from the United States in April 2007, reentered the United States illegally and was apprehended in Adams County, Pennsylvania.

     If convicted, Barranco-Ramirez faces a maximum sentence of up to two years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

     The investigations were conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Alice Song Hartye.

     Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

     A sentence following a finding of guilty is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

     Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant’s educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.