BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that Juvenal Lima Bettencourt de Quadros, 50, of Oakville, Ontario, Canada, pleaded guilty to being an alien found in the United States after removal subsequent to a conviction for an aggravated felony, before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Catherine.Baumgarten, who is handling the case, stated that de Quadros is a native of Portugal and a citizen of Canada. On Oct. 20, 1997, the defendant was convicted of federal cocaine charges in Massachusetts and sentenced to 60 months in prison. The crimes were designated as an aggravated felony under the Immigration and Nationality Act. On August 6, 2001, de Quadros was ordered removed from the United States and was officially removed on May 28, 2002.
On March 19, 2016, the defendant attempted to enter the United States at the Peace Bridge Port of Entry. Fingerprints determined that de Quadros was previously convicted of federal crimes and was not authorized to legally enter the United States. The defendant did not obtain the consent of the Attorney General of the United States or her successor, the Secretary for Homeland Security, to reapply for admission to the United States.
The plea is the result of an investigation by Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Acting Director of Field Operations Rose Hilmey.
Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 21, 2016 at 12:30 p.m. before Judge Arcara.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
