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ALIEN PLEADS GUILTY TO ILLEGAL RE-ENTRY AND ILLEGAL USE OF A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS
JOSE FRANCISCO PADILLA-MENJIVAR, age 40, a citizen of Honduras, pled guilty today in federal court today before U. S. District Judge Lance M. Africk to a two-count indictment charging him with illegal re-entry by a removed alien and illegal use of a Social Security number, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.
According to court documents, on November 9, 2010, PADILLA, an alien who had previously been removed from the United States, was found in Jefferson Parish without having obtained the proper consent. Additionally, on May 18, 2009, for the purpose of obtaining a Louisiana Identification Card, PADILLA falsely represented that a Social Security number had been assigned to him by the Commissioner of Social Security.
The illegal re-entry count carries a maximum term of imprisonment of two (2) years, a fine of $250,000.00 and one (1) year of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. On the illegal use of a Social Security number count, PADILLA faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five (5) years, a fine of $250,000.00 and three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. Sentencing is set for April 21, 2011 at 2:00 P.M.
The case was investigated by U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U. S. Attorney Robert Weir.