July 1, 2009

ISRAELI MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO ENTERING THE U.S. ILLEGALLY

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Avi Suissa, 27, who had been residing in Key West, Florida, was charged by Complaint on June 25, 2009 and appeared in United States District Court in Burlington with entering the United States at a place other than an official port of entry, and without valid immigration documents. At his initial appearance, Suissa pleaded guilty and was sentenced to time served. He will be deported back to Israel, where he is a citizen.

Court documents state that Suissa was found behind the Port of Entry building in Derby Line, Vermont early in the morning on June 25, 2009. He first pretended that he was looking for a gas station but eventually admitted that he had been staying in Florida but had gone abroad and was trying to re-enter the United States but did not have permission to do so.

The case was handled by United States Customs and Border Protection. The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney James J. Gelber. Suissa was represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender.