Press Release
Guatemalan National Man Sentenced For Immigration Crime
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of West Virginia
Defendant had a prior deportation in 2012
BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Guatemalan national man was sentenced to “time-served” after spending over three months federally incarcerated, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Domingo Celestino Pacheco-Us, 37, pleaded guilty on October 4, 2018 to the felony offense of Reentry of a Removed Alien. After the sentencing, Pacheco-Us was immediately remanded by Judge Irene C. Berger into Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) custody to begin the commencement of deportation proceedings. Stuart commended the investigative efforts of ICE.
“Far too many immigrants enter this country illegally, knowing that if found, they will be deported pursuant to federal immigration laws,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “We embrace those immigrants who abide by our laws, but will prosecute and deport those who evade our laws.”
On August 15, 2018, Pacheco-Us was found in Ripley, Jackson County, West Virginia by members of ICE after receiving a tip that individuals were in the country illegally and working at a restaurant in Ripley, West Virginia. Pursuant to this investigation, ICE agents approached Pacheco-Us and he surrendered to them, offering a Guatemalan identification document. Agents immediately confirmed that Pacheco-Us was not in the United States legally, and took him into federal custody.
Pacheco-Us fingerprints matched him to a 2012 prior encounter where he was found in South Komelik, Arizona on October 8, 2012 and deported from the United States to Guatemala on October 31, 2012. He illegally reentered the United States prior to his capture in 2018. Pacheco-Us had not obtained permission to legally enter the United States and had not sought legal status or citizenship. Pacheco-Us admitted to ICE agents that he was a Guatemalan citizen and subject to deportation proceedings both in 2012 and also in 2018.
Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes is responsible for the prosecution. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing.
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Updated November 29, 2018
Topic
Immigration
Component