ALBANY, NEW YORK - A federal jury in Albany returned its verdict following the two-day trial of GUILLERMO ANTONIO SUAREZ, 48, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, announced United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and Customs and Border Protection Director of Field Operations James T. Engleman. The jury found SUAREZ guilty of all three felony counts charged in the indictment: (1) alien smuggling, (2) attempting to transport an illegal alien, and (3) inducing an alien to illegally enter the United States. He faces up to 10 years in prison on the first count, up to 5 years in prison on the other two counts, a $250,000 fine on each count, and up to three years of supervised release. SUAREZ is scheduled to be sentenced on January 6, 2014, before the Honorable Thomas J. McAvoy, United States District Judge, in Albany, New York.
SUAREZ, a lawful permanent resident, was arrested on Nov. 19, 2012, in Fort Covington, New York, after he helped his nephew, an alien, enter the United States from Canada outside a designated port of entry. SUAREZ dropped his nephew off on the Canadian side of the border and entered the United States through the Fort Covington port of entry by car while his nephew crossed the border through the woods, on foot, approximately three miles east of the port of entry. During inspection, Customs and Border Protection Officers found maps of the border and luggage belonging to SUAREZ’S nephew inside SUAREZ’S car.
This case was investigated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Border Patrol. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jeffrey C. Coffman and Edward P. Grogan. Further questions may be directed to Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth C. Coombe at (518) 431-0247.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
