The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings on February 3, 2010, before Senior U.S. District Judge Jack D. Shanstrom, JESUS BARRIGA-PULIDO, a 41-year-old citizen of Mexico, pled guilty to illegal re-entry after deportation. Sentencing is set for May 5, 2010. He is currently detained.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia K. Hurd, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

On December 5, 2009, BARRIGA-PULIDO was stopped for speeding by a Montana Highway Patrol trooper in Dawson County near Glendive. BARRIGA-PULIDO admitted that he was not a citizen nor did he have a green card. Dispatch reported to the trooper that BARRIGA-PULIDO had been previously deported.

Through record checks and a fingerprint comparison, it was revealed that BARRIGA-PULIDO is a citizen of Mexico and had been previously removed from the United States on May 22, 2003, at El Paso, Texas. When questioned, he admitted to having previously been removed from the United States and that he had never applied to the Secretary of Homeland Security to reenter the United States.

Further review of Immigration did not reveal any evidence that BARRIGA-PULIDO had received permission from the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to reenter the United States after having been removed.

BARRIGA-PULIDO faces possible penalties of 2 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 1 year supervised release.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Montana Highway Patrol and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.

 

 

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