NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - United States Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that BENITO ORBE-SANTANA, age 43, a native of Mexico, was charged Friday, Dec. 14, 2018 in a one-count indictment with illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
According to the indictment, ORBE-SANTANA was previously removed from the United States on July 9, 2008. He was later found in the Eastern District of Louisiana on Dec. 10, 2018 and had not received permission from the Attorney General of the United States or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to reenter.
If convicted, ORBE-SANTANA faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 2 years, a fine of $250,000, one year of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Strasser reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. is in charge of the prosecution.
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Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
