Jeyson Francisco Sanchez-Castillo, Reentry of a Removed Alien, West Virginia 2018

BECKLEY, W.Va. – Two Honduran national men were sentenced for illegally reentering the United States, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Jeyson Francisco Sanchez-Castillo, 19, and Olvin Alexis Ramos-Diaz, 21, both of Honduras, pleaded guilty on May 2, 2018.

The defendants had prior misdemeanor convictions for illegally entering the United States. On February 28, 2018, both Sanchez-Castillo and Ramos-Diaz were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, who were conducting targeted law enforcement operations in the Beckley area.

Agents observed the defendants leaving a home on their way to work at a restaurant in Beckley, West Virginia. After stopping the cars and confirming their identity, both men admitted they were not in the United States legally and were placed under arrest.

ICE agents submitted Sanchez-Castillo’s and Ramos-Diaz’s fingerprints, forensically matching both of them to prior removals from the United States in 2017. They both also forensically matched Texas misdemeanor convictions of Illegal Entry into the United States.

Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes handled both prosecutions. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger remanded both men for deportation proceedings as immigration authorities had placed a detainer on them.

“The revolving door must end,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “If we want a country, we must have a border. If people want to come here, they should get in line and enter legally. Otherwise, they can expect to be prosecuted and deported in every case.”

Both Sanchez-Castillo and Ramos-Diaz were sentenced to time served for the felony offense of Reentry of a Removed Alien. They have been in custody since February 28, 2018, and were remanded for deportation proceedings as per the immigration authorities.