United States Attorney James T. Jacks
Northern District of Texas

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2009
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txn/

DALLAS MAN SENTENCED TO MAXIMUM GUIDELINE SENTENCE OF EIGHT YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON IN COUNTERFEITING CASE

Defendant Enrique Martinez Alonso in U.S. Illegally

DALLAS — Enrique Martinez Alonso, 53, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay to the maximum statutory guideline sentence of 96 months in federal prison, following his guilty plea in August 2009 to counterfeiting and illegal re-entry offenses, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. Alonso has been in federal custody since his arrest in March 2009. After serving this federal sentence, Alonso will be turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for removal proceedings.

Specifically, Alonso pleaded guilty to one count of uttering counterfeit obligations or securities and one count of illegal re-entry after deportation. According to documents filed in court, on August 12, 2008, an undercover officer and another individual went to Alonso’s apartment to purchase counterfeit U.S. currency. The deal had previously been arranged with the individual who was working with law enforcement. When Alonso came out of his apartment, he got into the back seat of their vehicle and asked for a ride to his daughter’s house. Alonso reached over the front seat and dropped a bundle wrapped in aluminum foil onto the front seat of the vehicle. The undercover officer picked up the bundle and saw the counterfeit bills wrapped in the foil and the other individual reached into his pocket and gave Alonso $400 for the counterfeit bills, which totaled nearly $10,000.

Alonso had been previously deported from the U.S. and knowingly illegally re-entered the country.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Dallas Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Phelesa Guy was in charge of the prosecution.

###