Honduras Citizen Pleads Guilty to Illegal Re-Entry into the U.S. and Social Security Fraud

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - A citizen of Honduras pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal immigration and fraud laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

Jose Mejia-Sarmiento, 66, pleaded guilty to Counts One through Nine of the Indictment before United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines.

In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that on three separate occasions between 1996 and 2016, Mejia-Sarmiento was found in the United States after having been deported and removed from the United States, including after having been convicted of a felony on the latter occasion. Further, Mejia-Sarmiento made false statements to the Social Security Administration on four different occasions between May 2024 and February 2025 in the Western District of Pennsylvania, by possessing and using the identification of another person.

Judge Haines scheduled sentencing for December 9, 2025. The law provides for a sentence of not more than five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and the Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Mejia-Sarmiento.