Scottsbluff Man Charged With Living in U.S. Illegally

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Scottsbluff, Nebraska, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly living in the United States illegally after having been previously deported to Mexico.

Juan Villa-Mejia, age 31, was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 7, 2012, for Illegal Reentry After Deportation. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on March 9, 2012, and pled not guilty to the indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 2 years' imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine. The charge is merely an accusation, and Villa-Mejia is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Immigration & Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Kelderman is prosecuting the case. Villa-Mejia was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal. A trial date has not yet been set.