Chinese Citizen Admits Illegally Re-entering the United States

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Va Meng Joe, age 53, and a citizen of China, pled guilty yesterday to illegally re-entering the United States.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Chief Patrol Agent John C. Pfeifer, United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector.

As part of his plea, Joe admitted that on March 2, 2018, he walked from Canada into the United States, and was then picked up by a driver in Champlain, New York.  Shortly thereafter, a Border Patrol Agent stopped the vehicle and discovered Joe, who had been previously removed from the United States in 2017.  Joe was removed from the United States following a conviction for heroin trafficking in Massachusetts for which he was sentenced to 5 years and one day in prison.

Joe faces up to 20 years in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000, when he is sentenced on August 14, 2018 by Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. 

This case was investigated by the Border Patrol and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Collyer.