Jose Transito Lopez Pleads Guilty To Illegal Re-entry

JOSE TRANSITO LOPEZ, age 33, a citizen of Honduras, pled guilty in federal court today before U. S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo to a one-count indictment charging him with illegal re-entry by a removed alien, announced U. S. Attorney Dana Boente.

According to court documents, LOPEZ admitted to being an alien who had previously been removed from the United States, was found in the United States, in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana on November 14, 2012, without having obtained consent from the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States. LOPEZ further admitted that he was convicted of delivery of cocaine in Texas prior to his removal.

The indictment charging LOPEZ with illegal re-entry also included a notice of sentencing enhancement based on his prior aggravated felony conviction.  With the enhancement, the charge carries a maximum statutory penalty of twenty years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.  Sentencing for LOPEZ is scheduled for June 13, 2013 at 10:00 A.M.   

The case was investigated by U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office as part of the Criminal Alien Removal Initiative.  The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U. S. Attorney Robert Weir.

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