CHINESE MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO ILLEGALLY ENTERING THE UNITED STATES

St. Thomas, VI –United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Xiaoling Li, 32, of China, pleaded guilty to Illegal Entry into the United States before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller and was sentenced to time served.

According to court documents, Xiaoling Li was arrested after being inspected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection before he attempted to board a Delta flight to New York on August 2, 2023. During his inspection, officers determined that Li traveled from China to Suriname, and on July 26, 2023, Li paid $7,500.00 to his traffickers to illegally transport him by boat to St. Thomas. Li’s inspection also confirmed that no record exists that authorized his legal entry into the United States, and no evidence exists that Li applied for, sought, or received prior permission to enter or reside in the United States.

This case was investigated by United States Customs and Border Protection and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz.