Mexico man sentenced on re-entry of deported alien charge

Acting U.S. Attorney Lynn Jordheim announced that on

July 26, Hector Francisco Varela-Duarte, 42, of Mexico, was sentenced before U.S. District Court Daniel L. Hovland on a charge of re-entry of deported alien.

Varela-Duarte pleaded guilty to the charge on May 7.

Hovland sentenced Varela-Duarte to serve one year and one day in federal

prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release. Varela-Duarte was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victim's Fund.

On Feb. 26, law enforcement officials received a tip that Varela-Duarte

was illegally in the country and was staying at the El Rancho Motel in Williston, North

Dakota. U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement officials located and

questioned Varela-Duarte. When asked for identification, Varela-Duarte presented a false alien registration receipt card, authorities said. ICE officials were able to determine his true identity and discovered that he had previously been lawfully deported from the United States

around June 30, 1997, and again on March 16, 2005. Varela-Duarte subsequently entered the United States without authorization from the appropriate United States officials.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Hagler prosecuted the case.

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