A Mexican national man pleaded guilty today to the felony offense of reentry of a removed alien. Sergio Chavez-Nieto, 44, was found guilty by the Court and sentenced to a “time served” sentence, having spent almost three months in federal custody. Chavez-Nieto was subsequently remanded to ICE custody for possible removal proceedings from the United States.
According to court documents and statements made during the hearing, on November 9, 2021, Chavez-Nieto was found in Parkersburg by members of ICE who had identified him during the course of an investigation. ICE agents spoke to the defendant to confirm his identity. Chavez-Nieto admitted being in the United States illegally and had no identification documents permitting him legal status in the United States. Chavez-Nieto was placed under arrest.
Fingerprinting matched Chavez-Nieto to five prior removals from the United States: three voluntary removals in 2000, one administrative removal in 2010 and another administrative removal in 2014. Chavez-Nieto has a 2003 state felony conviction for possession of cocaine in Winston Salem, North Carolina and also a 2014 federal misdemeanor conviction for illegal entry in Laredo, Texas. Chavez-Nieto never obtained permission to legally enter the United States and had not sought legal status or citizenship. Chavez-Nieto further admitted to ICE agents that he was a Mexican citizen.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Parkersburg Police Department Street Crimes Unit and the United States Marshals Service.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes is responsible for the prosecution.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00247.
