UTICA, NEW YORK - Ronald Pineda-Carias, age 41, and a citizen of Honduras, was sentenced yesterday to 16 months in prison for illegally re-entering the United States as a felon.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Robert N. Garcia, Chief Patrol Agent, United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector.
Pineda-Carias pled guilty on Oct. 18, 2018. On May 2, 2006, Pineda-Carias was convicted of felony cocaine possession in Miami, Florida, and was thereafter removed from the United States to Honduras. On November 4, 2011, he was convicted of illegally re-entering the United States in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and was sentenced to time served. Pineda-Carias was again removed to Honduras. In all, Pineda-Carias has been removed to Honduras on 5 occasions.
On August 9, 2018, a Border Patrol Agent encountered Pineda-Carias in downtown Plattsburgh, New York. Pineda-Carias had a brief conversation with the agent, but then fled on foot and dove into the Saranac River in an effort to evade law enforcement. After a brief search, a Plattsburgh Police Officer discovered Pineda-Carias hiding in the bushes on the southwest bank of the river.
Following his term of imprisonment, Pineda-Carias will be transferred to the custody of the Department of Homeland Security, for removal proceedings.
This case was investigated by the United States Border Patrol, with assistance from the Plattsburgh Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Collyer.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
