Illegal immigrants face prison, deportation after marijuana bust


wistv.com
By Logan Smith
Posted: Nov 22, 2011 5:31 PM EST

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - Two Mexican natives were sentenced to federal prison Tuesday for entering the country illegally after authorities arrested them during a marijuana investigation, according to prosecutors.

Jose Pablo Hernandez, 29, of Batesburg and Laureno Gonzales-Orozco, 33, of Columbia were each sentenced to two years in prison, according to US Attorney Bill Nettles. Nettles said Hernandez pled guilty to being an alien in possession of firearms and ammunition, and Gonzales-Orozco pled guilty to re-entry by a removed alien.

Both men will be subject to deportation proceedings upon their release.

Prosecutors said the men were arrested on April 15 at Harnandez's residence on Shealy Road in Batesburg after an investigation revealed a package shipped to that address contained 150 marijuana plants. A search of the house revealed several firearms and ammunition, according to Nettles.

Further investigation revealed that both men were in the U.S. illegally, so authorities notified the Departments of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Nettles said Gonzales-Orozco was previously removed from the United States in 1999 and in 2007.

http://www.wistv.com/story/16104958/ill ... juana-bust