Mexican National Indicted For Transporting Three Individuals Who Unlawfully Entered And Remained In The United States

HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that a federal grand jury in Harrisburg has indicted Esau Garcia-Patino, for transporting three individuals who unlawfully entered and remained in the United States. 

According to U.S. Attorney Peter Smith, the indictment charges that on October 20, 2015, Garcia-Patino, a 23year old Mexican national, was stopped by State Police in Cumberland County and found to be aiding and transporting three individuals within the United States who unlawfully entered and remained in the United States.  Garcia-Patino remains in custody.

The matter was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and the Pennsylvania State Police.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy H. Fawcett.

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

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

The maximum penalty under federal law is 10 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. 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.

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