November 18, 2008
MAN CAUGHT IN MESA COUNTY SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR UNLAWFULLY REENTERING THE UNITED STATES
DENVER – Jose Amado Diaz-Gallegos, age 41, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to serve 87 months (over 7 years) in federal prison for unlawful reentry of an aggravated felon, United States Attorney Troy Eid and ICE Office of Detention and Removal Operations Field Office Director John Longshore announced. The sentence was pronounced by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Lewis T. Babcock. Diaz-Gallegos was remanded and ordered to start serving his sentence immediately.
Jose Amado Diaz-Gallegos was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver on January 7, 2008. He pled guilty before former Chief U.S. District Court Judge Edward W. Nottingham on August 29, 2008. He was sentenced by Judge Babcock on November 14, 2008.
According to the stipulated facts contained in the plea agreement, on December 7, 2007, the defendant was contacted by immigration officials while at the Mesa County Jail during routine jail checks. He had been booked into the jail on December 6, 2007 for state offenses, including traffic violations and criminal impersonation. Subsequent investigation revealed that Diaz-Gallegos was a native and citizen of Mexico, and that on January 12, 1996 in Superior Court in Graham County Arizona, he was convicted of Possession of a Dangerous Drug for Sale. On April 21, 2000, and again on August 10, 2006 the defendant was deported. He committed a felony by illegally reentering the United States in September 2006 through Nogales, Arizona, by walking through the dessert. Diaz-Gallegos did not obtain permission to enter the country.
“Illegal aliens who commit felonies and wind up in Mesa County face serious federal prison time,” said U.S. Attorney Troy Eid.
“This significant prison sentence helps send the message that reentering the United States after being formally deported is a serious crime,” said John Longshore, field office director of the ICE Office of Detention and Removal Operations in Denver. “ICE’s close coordination with the U.S. Attorney’s Office helps put teeth into the immigration laws.” Longshore oversees the states of Colorado and Wyoming.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wyatt Angelo, Dondi Osborne, and Joseph Mackey.
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