C.B.P. News Release

3-Year Jail Sentence for Illegal Alien Who Fled From Border Patrol

(Tuesday, February 15, 2011)

Toledo, Ohio – The U.S. Border Patrol’s Detroit sector and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Toledo, Ohio, announced today that Antonio Cervantes-Peralta, 21, an illegal alien from Mexico, was sentenced Monday to 36 months in federal prison.

On April 25, 2010, Border Patrol agents from the Sandusky Bay Border Patrol Station were traveling west on the Ohio Turnpike when a Dodge Caravan with Arizona plates exhibited "road rage" characteristics with a third party vehicle within a posted construction zone. The Caravan crossed the center line forcing the Border Patrol Agent to take evasive action and avoid a collision.

After exiting the construction zone, agents initiated a vehicle stop. As agents approached the vehicle the Caravan accelerated and sped off westbound on Interstate 80, Ohio state troopers were notified. Agents attempted to pursue the vehicle but were unable to safely catch-up in traffic and terminated their pursuit.

Ohio state troopers made contact with the van near mile marker 43 around 7:45 p.m. The two men attempted to elude police, losing control and rolling the vehicle over at an off-ramp. One of the men fled the vehicle and Troopers initiated a foot pursuit. The individual was later caught by Fulton County sheriff’s deputies and both men were taken to the Fulton County Medical Center where they received treatment for minor injuries, and were released.

Cervantes-Peralta will serve 36 months in federal prison, and will then be deported back to Mexico. David Bauer, Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Toledo Office, said “I am very pleased with the outcome of this case. The U.S. Border Patrol, specifically the Sandusky Bay station and my office worked long and hard to make sure justice was served to Mr. Peralta for his crime. This is a great win for the people of northern Ohio.â€