Honduran National Man Pleads Guilty to Immigration Crime

Defendant had two prior deportations to Honduras

BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Honduran national man entered a guilty plea to the felony offense of Reentry of a Removed Alien, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Wilfredo Artiaga-Mejia faces up to two years of incarceration when he is scheduled to be sentenced on February 20, 2019.  Artiaga-Mejia  is also subject to deportation proceedings at the conclusion of any sentence.   Stuart commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“My office is serious about prosecuting those who enter the United States illegally,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “And we will continue to do so.” 

On August 29, 2018, Artiaga-Mejia was found in Maxwelton, Greenbrier County, West Virginia by members of ICE after receiving a tip that individuals were in the country illegally and working in the area.  Pursuant to this investigation,  ICE agents approached Artiaga-Mejia and he surrendered to them. Agents immediately confirmed that Artiaga-Mejia was not in the United States legally, and took him into federal custody.

Artiaga-Mejia’s fingerprints matched him to two prior encounters where he was found in the United States illegally and deported from the United States to Honduras.  He was also previously convicted of illegally entering the United States on December 4, 2012 in the Western District of Texas.   Artiaga-Mejia-Chigo illegally reentered the United States prior to his capture in 2018.  Artiaga-Mejia had not obtained permission to legally enter the United States and had not sought legal status or citizenship.  Artiaga-Mejia also admitted to ICE agents that he was a Honduran citizen.

Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes is responsible for the prosecution. United States District Judge Irene Berger presided over the hearing.

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