Alien Located in Sumter Pleads Guilty to Illegal Re-Entry

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Martin Saquic-Larios, age 24, of Guatemala, has entered a guilty plea in federal court in Columbia, to Illegal Re-Entry, a violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a)(2) and (b).  United States District Chief Judge Terry L. Wooten, of Columbia, accepted the guilty plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report, which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Martin Saquic-Larios was encountered by agents from ICE-Homeland Security Investigations on January 26, 2017 at the Sumter-Lee County Detention Center in Sumter, after he was arrested for Forgery and Identity Fraud. An investigation revealed that Saquic-Larios is a citizen of Guatemala. He had been deported on October 9, 2013 pursuant to an order of removal then re-entered the United States without permission.

U.S. Attorney Drake stated the maximum penalty for Illegal Re-Entry is imprisonment for 20 years and/or a fine of $250,000.

The case was investigated by agents from ICE-Homeland Security Investigations.  Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II, of the Columbia office, is prosecuting the case.

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