Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Re-Entering the United States

Gulfport, Miss. – Fernando Ochoa-Hernandez, 29, an illegal alien from Mexico, pled guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to the crime of Unlawful Reentry by an Alien After Removal, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, Jere T. Miles, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans, and Gregory K. Bovino, Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Border Patrol’s New Orleans Sector. 

Ochoa-Hernandez is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Ozerden on January 10, 2019.  He faces a potential maximum penalty of 2 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  He also faces Department of Homeland Security removal proceedings following the completion of any prison sentence.

On August 8, 2018, Harrison County Sheriff’s Office deputies encountered Ochoa-Hernandez at a residence while investigating a complaint of suspected narcotic activity.  Deputies then requested assistance from Special Agents of Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Border Patrol.  In response to questioning, Ochoa-Hernandez produced a Mexican identification document. Computerized records check revealed that Ochoa-Hernandez had been previously removed from the United States by the U.S. Border Patrol on three prior occasions.  Ochoa-Hernandez was arrested and transported to the Homeland Security Investigations Office in Gulfport, Mississippi. 

 U.S. Attorney Hurst praised the cooperation exhibited by Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Border Patrol and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorney Stan Harris is prosecuting the case.