Arthur Hugh Stephen Knox, a 58-year-old Canadian national, was sentenced to time served — three months — for attempting to unlawfully reenter the United States at the Rainbow Bridge Point of Entry, federal prosecutors announced today.
U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo handed down the sentence after Knox pleaded guilty to attempted unlawful reentry, a federal crime carrying serious penalties for foreign nationals previously expelled from the country. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott S. Allen, Jr. in the Western District of New York.
On September 11, 2016, Knox approached the U.S. border at Niagara Falls, claiming entry into the country. But a routine check by Customs and Border Protection officers flagged his criminal history: three prior felony convictions for drug possession in the United States. That record triggered an automatic immigration red flag.
Due to his criminal past, a U.S. Immigration Judge had ordered Knox’s removal in July 2007, banning him from returning for 10 years. That ban expired, but because of his attempt to reenter without authorization and prior deportable offenses, federal authorities moved to prosecute him under immigration law.
The investigation was led by Customs and Border Protection under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Hilmey. Agents confirmed Knox’s identity, criminal record, and the circumstances of his attempted entry, building a case that culminated in conviction and sentencing.
Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. emphasized that violations of immigration orders, especially by those with criminal histories, are taken seriously. “Individuals previously removed for serious offenses don’t get a free pass back into the U.S.,” Kennedy said. “We’re watching the border — and we’re enforcing the law.”
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- Cesar Cruz-Perez Sentenced for Illegal Reentry After Felony Conviction · New Jersey
- Dominican Man Alcequiez-Sanchez Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry · Massachusetts
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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