JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Honduran national Jose Mejia-Sarmiento, 66, has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of illegal re-entry into the U.S. and Social Security fraud. According to Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti, Mejia-Sarmiento violated federal immigration and fraud laws by returning to the U.S. on three separate occasions after being deported, including following a felony conviction.
Mejia-Sarmiento also admitted to making false statements to the Social Security Administration between May 2024 and February 2025 in Pennsylvania, using another person’s identification. The defendant now faces serious consequences for his actions.
The court was advised that Mejia-Sarmiento’s illegal activities spanned from 1996 to 2016. Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is handling the prosecution on behalf of the government.
Sentence hearing has been scheduled for December 9, 2025, with potential penalties including up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The actual sentence will depend on the seriousness of the offenses and any prior criminal history.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and the Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General.
Jose Mejia-Sarmiento’s case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences faced by those who commit immigration and fraud-related offenses in the United States.
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Related Federal Cases
- Mexican Citizen Indicted for Illegal Re-Entry in PA · Pennsylvania
- Illegal Alien Lazo-Rodriguez Sentenced to 2 Years for Deportation Fraud · Pennsylvania
- Altoona Illegal Re-Entry: Juan Raymundo Martinez-Alba Indicted · Pennsylvania
- Rogelio Valencia-Sanchez Indicted for Illegal Re-entry · Pennsylvania
- Deported Alien Luis Alvarez-Arguello Charged With Illegal Re-entry · Pennsylvania
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Public Corruption|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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