SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - Maria Martinez a/k/a Maria Josefa Munagorri Diaz, age 49, of Madrid, Spain, pled guilty yesterday to attempting to illegally re-enter the United States.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and Steven Bronson, United States Customs and Border Protection Port Director for the Champlain Port of Entry.
Martinez was convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine in the Northern District of Ohio in 2002, and after serving 32 months in prison, was deported. Because of her conviction, Martinez is not allowed to enter the United States. As part of her guilty plea yesterday, Martinez admitted that on August 8, 2016, she presented herself at the Champlain Port of Entry for admission to the United States and presented a passport in the name of “Maria Josefa Munagorri Diaz." A fingerprint scan of Martinez resulted in the discovery of her arrest record and prior deportation.
As a result of her conviction, Martinez faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 when she is sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Norman A. Mordue on May 30, 2017. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
This case was investigated by United States Customs and Border Protection and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Collyer.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
