BECKLEY, W.Va. - A Honduran man was sentenced to “time served" for an immigration crime, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Elmer Hernandez, 30, entered a guilty plea to the felony offense of Reentry of a Removed Alien on May 15, 2015 and has been in federal custody for four months. He was immediately remanded to ICE officials for removal proceedings. Stuart commended the work of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the West Virginia State Police.
“Like so many others, Hernandez returned to the United States illegally after a previous removal," said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “We will continue to prosecute line skippers until they follow our laws."
On March 9, 2019, a West Virginia State Police trooper saw a car that was stopped at Mile Marker 52 on the West Virginia Turnpike outside of Beckley, Raleigh County, West Virginia. Three men were standing outside a car with its emergency blinkers on. When the trooper pulled in, the men ran to the car and began to drive away. The trooper asked the driver what was happening and for a drivers license. The driver could not communicate with the trooper due to a language barrier and did not have a drivers license. The trooper contacted a translator service provided by ICE to assist. The driver and two other individuals spoke with ICE agents telephonically and all three were found to be in the United States illegally. All three men were taken into custody and fingerprinted. Hernandez, one of the three men, was found to be a prior reentry. Specifically, his prints matched a prior removal from Pennsylvania in 2015. Hernandez further admitted to ICE agents that he was in the United States illegally and had not obtained permission to legally enter the United States. He had not otherwise sought legal status or citizenship. Hernandez further admitted to ICE agents that he was a Honduran citizen.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes is responsible for the prosecution.
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Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
