Illegal Alien Sentenced to 10 Months in Federal Court

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Jesus Patino-Lopez, age 31, of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, was sentenced in federal court in Florence, South Carolina, for Illegal Re-Entry into the United States.  United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins, Jr. of Spartanburg sentenced Patino-Lopez to 10 months in federal prison with 1 year of supervised release to follow. 

The evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing established that on June 23, 2017, ICE–Enforcement and Removal Operations Officers in Charleston, SC, encountered Patino-Lopez at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center where he was detained for local charges.  A records check revealed that Patino-Lopez is a native and citizen of Mexico and had two prior removals in 2009.  On both occasions, he was removed from the United States back to Mexico.  A records check also revealed that Patino-Lopez had not received permission to enter, re-enter, or remain in the United States. 

This case was investigated by officers of the ICE–Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Horry County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Hummel of the Florence office handled the case.

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