Mexican National Sentenced for Immigration Crime

Defendant had three prior deportations to Mexico

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Mexican national man was sentenced to seven months incarceration for the felony offense of Reentry of a Removed Alien, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Gilberto Espino-Velasquez, 41, has been in custody since November 8, 2018.  Espino-Velasquez will be remanded to ICE custody to institute deportation proceedings at the conclusion of his sentence.   Stuart commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“They just keep coming,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “Espino-Velasquez had three prior deportations.  I applaud ICE for their tireless work in enforcing our immigration laws.”

On November 8, 2018, Espino-Velasquez was found in Nitro, Kanawha County, West Virginia by members of ICE after receiving a tip that individuals were in the country illegally and working on a construction crew in the area.  Pursuant to this investigation,  ICE agents approached Espino-Velasquez and he surrendered to them. Agents immediately confirmed that Espino-Velasquez was not in the United States legally, and took him into federal custody.

Espino-Velasquez  fingerprints matched him to three prior encounters in 2003 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 8, 2003 in the Western District of Texas.   Espino-Velasquez again illegally reentered the United States prior to his capture in 2018.  Espino-Velasquez had not obtained permission to legally enter the United States and had not sought legal status or citizenship.  Espino-Velasquez  also admitted to ICE agents that he was a Mexican citizen.

Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes is responsible for the prosecution. United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver Jr. presided over the hearing.

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