Australian Woman Pleads Guilty to Encouraging Illegal Entry in Maine
Bangor, Maine – Sarah Louise Branch, 37, of New South Wales, Australia, pleaded guilty to encouraging and inducing the entry of an illegal alien into the United States, announced United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank.
According to court records, on July 10, 2018, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents searched the vehicle Branch was driving when she sought admission to the United States at a Port of Entry in Calais, Maine, and discovered a Mexican passport, male clothing, and photographs of a male, later identified as Benigno Godinez-Cortez.
Branch admitted that she dropped her boyfriend, Godinez-Cortez, off in Canada near the U.S. border knowing that he was a citizen of Mexico and would not be admitted into the United States, and that she intended to pick him up after he entered the United States illegally.
Branch faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. She will be sentenced after completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
Godinez-Cortez, who also pleaded guilty to unlawfully re-entering the United States, awaits sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Branch’s guilty plea underscores the serious consequences of attempting to circumvent U.S. immigration laws. As the case demonstrates, those who engage in such activities risk facing severe penalties, including imprisonment and significant fines.
U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank emphasized the importance of enforcing immigration laws and protecting the integrity of our borders. ‘This case demonstrates the commitment of this Office to ensuring that those who seek to undermine our immigration laws are held accountable,’ he said.
Key Facts
- State: Maine
- Category: Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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