LAFAYETTE, La. - United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that an illegal alien from Mexico arrested in Acadia Parish pleaded guilty today to illegally re-entering the country.
Jose Melchor-Martinez, 49, of Mexico, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carol B. Whitehurst to one count of illegal re-entry of a removed alien. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. According to the guilty plea, U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents arrested Melchor-Martinez near Church Point, Louisiana, on Oct. 12, 2018 on a criminal complaint. He had been previously removed from the United States on September 6, 2003 after a serving time for a conviction in Mecklenburg, North Carolina, for a charge of indecent liberties with a child. At the time of his arrest in October, U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement considered Melchor-Martinez one of its most wanted fugitives. For more information, see www.ice.gov/most-wanted/martinez-jose-melchor.
Melchor-Martinez faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and possible deportation. The court set sentencing for June 6, 2019.
U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Removal, Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Ayo is prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
