DEPORTED HONDURAN CHARGED WITH ILLEGALLY RE-ENTERING UNITED STATES
United States Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan announced today, February 11, 2009, that Cristian Martinez-Ceveda a/k/a Edin Martinez-Cevera, a/k/a Edin Martinez-Cevede, a/k/a Ariste Martinez-Ceveda of Honduras, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating federal immigration laws.
The one-count indictment named Martinez-Ceveda, age 23, of Honduras as the sole defendant.
According to the indictment, Martinez-Ceveda, having previously been deported from the United States pursuant to law on September 30, 2004, was present in the Western District of Pennsylvania on January 19, 2009, without having applied for and received permission from the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security for re-application for admission into the United States.
Assistant United States Attorney Almon S. Burke, Jr., who presented the case to the grand jury, indicated that the law provides for a maximum total sentence of 2 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Pennsylvania State Police - Pittsburgh Barracks conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
An indictment 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.
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