Alien Pleads Guilty To Immigration Violations

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - An individual found by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services has pleaded guilty in federal court on charges of false statement under oath in a proceeding or matter related to naturalization and re-entry into the United States after deportation, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Ernesto Ivan Lazo-Rodriguez a/k/a Daniel Mancero, 35, formerly from El Salvador, pleaded guilty to three counts before United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak.

Ernesto Ivan Lazo-Rodriguez, an alien, was admitted to the United States as a permanent resident on Dec. 2, 1993. Under the alias of Daniel Mancero, Lazo-Rodriguez was arrested and convicted of aggravated robbery and robbery by the State of Texas. Lazo-Rodriguez, under the alias of Daniel Mancero, was removed from the United States by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement on June 27, 2000. Ernesto Ivan Lazo-Rodriguez ultimately returned to the United States and lived here pursuant to his permanent resident card. Lazo-Rodriguez subsequently applied for naturalization. During the naturalization process, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service learned that Lazo-Rodriguez was Daniel Mancero. At his naturalization interview on July 18, 2012, Lazo-Rodriguez denied ever being previously arrested and denied ever being previously removed or deported.

Judge Hornack scheduled sentencing for Sept. 12, 2013, at 1:30 pm. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 30 years in prison, a fine of $750,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Shardul S. Desai is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Ernesto Ivan Lazo-Rodriguez a/k/a Daniel Mancero.