Salvador Lopez-Santiz, Re-entry of Removed Alien, Pennsylvania 2014

PITTSBURGH – In a disturbing case of repeated disregard for US law, a twice-removed alien has been sentenced to time served for again re-entering the country without permission.

Salvador Lopez-Santiz, a/k/a Salvadore Santos, 24, of Mexico, pleaded guilty and was sentenced in federal court to 6 months time served on his conviction of re-entry of removed alien, announced United States Attorney David J. Hickton today.

United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentence on Lopez-Santiz, who had been twice before removed from the United States – on Oct. 13, 2012 and Oct. 24, 2012 – and was found in the United States in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Aug. 12, 2014 without having obtained permission to re-enter the country.

According to information presented to the court, Lopez-Santiz’s repeated disregard for US law will not go unpunished, but the sentence will not be greater than necessary in this instance, warned Judge Schwab. However, if defendant again re-enters the U.S. without permission a subsequent sentence could be substantially greater.

Assistant United States Attorney Leo M. Dillon prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the Department of Homeland Security for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Lopez-Santiz.

The case is a stark reminder of the consequences of ignoring US immigration laws and the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies to prevent and investigate crimes.

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