Four men admit to illegal re-entry charges

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Four men have admitted to illegal re-entry charges, United States Attorney William J. Powell announced.

Benjamin Lopez-Ramirez, age 33, of Mexico, pled guilty to one count of “Reentry of Removed Alien.” Lopez-Ramirez, having been removed from the United States two prior times, and having been convicted of cocaine distribution in the Northern District of West Virginia, admitted to being in Jefferson County, West Virginia, without consent, in September 2017.

Jose Fredy Acosta-Cardona, age 36, of Honduras, pled guilty to one count of “Reentry of Removed Alien.” Acosta-Cardona, having been removed from the United States five prior times, admitted to being in Berkeley County, West Virginia, without consent, in September 2017.

Apolonio Pacheco-Lopez, age 25, of Guatemala, pled guilty to one count of “Reentry of Removed Alien.” Pacheco-Lopez, having been removed from the United States once before, admitted in Berkeley County, West Virginia, without consent, in September 2017.

Eostaquio Temoxtle-Panzo, age 29, of Mexico, admitted to one count of “Reentry of Removed Alien.” Temoxtle-Panzo, having been removed from the United States once before, admitted to being in Berkeley County, West Virginia, without consent, in August 2017.

Each defendant faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government. The Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement is investigating.