RICHMOND, Va. - A Honduran citizen pleaded guilty today to illegally reentering the United States after being removed by immigration authorities.
“Rios-Garcia illegally entered the United States, was deported at taxpayer expense, returned illegally a second time and then endangered the safety of this community by driving under the influence," said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “We continue to make these cases a priority and will work closely with our local and state partners to ensure we are doing everything we can to ensure the safety of the communities we serve."
According to court documents, Carlos Alexander Rios-Garcia, 22, illegally entered the United States and was deported in July 2017 after he was arrested in Baltimore on local criminal charges. Rios-Garcia illegally reentered the United States a second time and came into contact with law enforcement after he was arrested for DUI by Chesterfield County Police in November 2018.
“Plain and simple, ICE will continue to prioritize public safety threats for immigration enforcement," said Jeffrey M. Jacoff, Acting Field Office Director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Washington, D.C. “Individuals previously removed by ICE will face criminal re-entry charges if encountered again in the U.S."
Rios-Garcia pleaded guilty to illegal reentry and faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison when sentenced on May 21. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Jeffrey M. Jacoff, Acting Field Office Director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr. accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney S. David Schiller is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:19-cr-25.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
