1125 Chapline Street, Federal Building, Suite 3000 ● Wheeling, WV 26003
(304) 234-0100 ● Contact: Fawn E. Thomas, Public Affairs Specialist

June 29, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Two Mexican Citizens Entered Guilty Pleas to
Illegally Re-entering the United States

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA — Two Mexican citizens entered guilty pleas on June 28, 2010, in United States District Court in Martinsburg before Magistrate Judge David J. Joel.

United States Attorney Betsy C. Jividen announced that:

JULIO HERNANDEZ-TOPIA, age 32, and DOMINGO MENDEZ-DE LA CRUZ, age 28, each entered a plea of guilty to one count of an Indictment charging them with being aliens who illegally re-entered the Untied States after having been previously removed from the country. HERNANDEZ-TOPIA was encountered by ICE Agents on April 20, 2010, in Berkeley County, West Virginia. MENDEZ-DE LA CRUZ was encountered by ICE Agents on April 22, 2010, in Berkeley County.

The defendants, who are in federal custody, each face a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.

The cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin K. Reisenweber. The cases were investigated by the United States Department of Homeland Security – Immigration and Customs Enforcement.