Guatemala Native Sentenced for Illegal Re-entry in Iowa

Eswin Marroquin-Asturias, a 38-year-old Guatemalan national, faced justice after being sentenced to time served for illegal re-entry into the United States and using a false social security number to secure employment in Buena-Vista County.

Marroquin-Asturias pleaded guilty on October 1, 2014, to one count of illegal re-entry and one count of use of a false social security number. He had been previously removed from the country on December 15, 2011, but returned without authorization.

The defendant’s journey into legal trouble began when he was identified by Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) during an operation targeting passport fraud suspects in Storm Lake, Iowa. Marroquin-Asturias voluntarily disclosed his illegal activities, including the purchase of false identification documents.

On November 4, 2014, United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett sentenced Marroquin-Asturias to time served at a hearing held in Sioux City. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Fletcher and investigated by HSI along with the Enforcement and Removal Office of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Bureau.

For those seeking further details on this case, court file information can be accessed online at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl under case file number 14-CR-4061.

This sentence serves as a stark reminder of the consequences faced by individuals who seek to circumvent U.S. immigration laws and engage in fraudulent activities.