December 3, 2007

GUATEMALAN MAN INDICTED FOR IMMIGRATION OFFENSE

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on November 21, 2007, Juan Raymundo Ortiz, 32, of Guatemala, was indicted by a federal grand jury sitting in Rutland, Vermont on charges that he was found in the United States after having been previously deported. Ortiz made an initial appearance in the United States District Court for the District of Vermont on November 9, 2007 and was ordered detained pending resolution of the case.

According to court documents, on November 8, 2007, Ortiz was stopped at a United States Border Patrol checkpoint on I-91 in White River Junction, Vermont. After an investigation conducted by the United States Border Patrol, it was determined that Ortiz had been previously deported in 2004, following a felony conviction in Wisconsin for false imprisonment, and did not have permission to reenter the United States.

If convicted, Ortiz faces up to twenty years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, in the event of a conviction, will be determined in accordance with the federal Sentencing Guidelines. The United States Attorney emphasized that the charge contained in the indictment is an accusation only and that Ortiz is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The United States Attorney commended the United States Border Patrol for their investigation of this matter. The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Timothy C. Doherty, Jr. The defendant is represented by Attorney Michael Desautels.