Rafael Antonio Murillo Pleads Guilty To Illegal Re-entry

RAFAEL ANTONIO MURILLO, age 41, a citizen of El Salvador, pled guilty in federal court today before U. S. District Judge Ivan L. R. Lemelle 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, MURILLO 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 December 19, 2012, without having obtained consent from the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States.

The indictment charging MURILLO with illegal re-entry also included a notice of sentencing enhancement based on his prior felony conviction. With the enhancement, the charge carries a maximum statutory penalty of ten (10) years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. Sentencing for the defendant is scheduled for May 29, 2013 at 2:00 P.M.

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

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