Mexican National Man Pleads Guilty to Immigration Crime

Defendant had four prior deportations to Mexico

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Mexican national man entered a guilty plea to the felony offense of Reentry of a Removed Alien, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Arturo Chagala-Chigo faces up to two years of incarceration when he is scheduled to be sentenced on March 6, 2019.  Chagala-Chigo  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).

“Several prior deportations,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “How many times does someone need to be deported before they take the proper and appropriate steps to legally enter this country?”

On September 13, 2018, Chigala-Chigo was found in Summersville, Nicholas 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 Chagala-Chigo and he surrendered to them. Agents immediately confirmed that Chagala-Chigo was not in the United States legally, and took him into federal custody.

Chagala-Chigo’s fingerprints matched him to four prior encounters where he was found in the United States illegally and deported from the United States to Mexico.  He was also previously convicted of illegally entering the United States in September 12, 2015 in the Southern District of Texas.   Chagala-Chigo illegally reentered the United States prior to his capture in 2018.  Chagala-Chigo had not obtained permission to legally enter the United States and had not sought legal status or citizenship.  Chagala-Chigo also admitted to ICE agents that he was a Mexican citizen

Assistant United States Attorneys Drew Inman and Erik S. Goes are responsible for the prosecution. Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing.

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