February 5, 2009

MEXICAN NATIONAL CAUGHT IN MONTROSE SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR UNLAWFUL REENTRY OF AN AGGRAVATED FELON

DENVER – Urbano De Jesus-Daniel, age 39, a Mexican national caught in Montrose, Colorado, was sentenced Tuesday by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Wiley Y. Daniel to serve 65 months (over 5 years) in federal prison for unlawful reentry of an aggravated felon and for violating his supervised release in a 2002 criminal matter.  Jesus-Daniel was remanded into custody immediately following the sentencing hearing.

Urbano De Jesus-Daniel was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver on June 2, 2008.  He pled guilty before Chief Judge Daniel on November 10, 2008.  He was sentenced by the Chief Judge on Tuesday, February 3, 2009.  The defendant received 41 months in prison for unlawful reentry.  He received an additional 24 months for violating his supervised release from a 2002 federal criminal case.  The sentences are to be served consecutively, totaling 65 months.

According to the stipulated facts contained in the plea agreement, on May 12, 2008, Jesus-Daniel was found by Immigration authorities in the Montrose County Jail.  A subsequent investigation revealed that the defendant is a citizen of Mexico by birth.  On April 10, 1990, and again on September 15, 1998, Jesus-Daniel was convicted in Montrose County Court of third degree assault.  He was deported on January 4, 2007.  He returned to the United States following his 2007 deportation without permission.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“This is an excellent example of the partnership that exists between our state and federal law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute those who violate our immigration laws,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Dave Gaouette.

“Prison sentences send a clear message to others who may consider re-entering the United States after being deported,” said Jeffrey Copp, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Denver.  “ICE works closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to pursue prosecution of these cases to help maintain the integrity of the immigration system.”  Copp oversees a four-state area which includes: Colorado, Montana, Utah and Wyoming.

The defendant was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dondi Osborne, Wyatt Angelo, and Kenneth Harmon.

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