Mexican Man Pleads Guilty to False Claim to United States Citizenship

St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today that Edgar Ramirez aka Rodolfo O. Salinas, 36, pleaded guilty today to false claim of United States citizenship.

According to a plea agreement filed with the court, on December 20, 2018, Ramirez presented himself for inspection to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers at the Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, while attempting to board Delta Airlines flight #307 to Atlanta, Ga. During primary inspection, Ramirez presented a Pennsylvania identification card bearing the name Rodolfo Salinas to the CBP Officer. During questioning, Ramirez also stated that he was a citizen of the United States. Ramirez was referred to secondary inspection where he also stated that he was a U.S. citizen who was born in Texas. After waiving his Miranda rights, Ramirez stated that he was born in Mexico with dual citizenship in Mexico and Guatemala. Ramirez stated that in 2001, he paid $2,000 to cross the border into the United States and has been living in the United States ever since. Ramirez admitted that he told the CBP Officers that he was a U.S. citizen.

Ramirez faces a three-year period of incarceration and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing is set for June 11, 2019.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim L. Chisholm.