Guatemalan Citizen Apprehended In Franklin County Charged With Illegal Reentry

     The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) announced today that a 35-year-old native and citizen of Guatemala was charged on September 9 with illegal reentry into the United States.

     According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, Homero Ruiz-Luis, age 35, was charged in a one-count information filed with the court in Harrisburg.

     The information alleges that Ruiz-Luis, an alien who has previously been arrested and deported from the United States, reentered the United States illegally and was apprehended in Franklin County, Pennsylvania.

     If convicted, Ruiz-Luis faces a maximum sentence of up to 6 months’ imprisonment and a $5,000 fine.

     This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Alice Song Hartye.

     Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

     A sentence following a finding of guilty is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

      Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant’s educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.