Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Billings, on March 13, 2009, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, LUIS COELLO-RAUDALES, a resident of Honduras, appeared for sentencing. COELLO-RAUDALES was sentenced to a term of:

• Prison: 157 days (time served)

• Special Assessment: $100

• Supervised Release: 6 months

COELLO-RAUDALES was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien.

In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

On October 8, 2007, COELLO-RUDALES was encountered at the Billings Greyhound Bus Station by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent. When questioned in Spanish by the agent, COELLO-RUDALES and two other Hispanic males stated they were traveling to Seattle, Washington. When the agent asked COELLE-RUDALES as to his citizenship, COELLE-RUDALES stated he was from Honduras. He also admitted he did not have any documentation to be or remain in the United States.

Through a review of immigration records and a fingerprint comparison, it was revealed that COELLE-RUDALES had been previously deported from the United States on October 25, 2001. A further review of immigration records did not reveal any evidence that COELLE-RUDALES had received permission from the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to reenter the United States after being removed.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that COELLO-RAUDALES will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, COELLO-RAUDALES does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia K. Hurd prosecuted the case for the United States.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

 

 

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