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A Mexican national pleaded guilty faces federal charges
Wednesday, August 09, 2006, at 1:46 p.m. -

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By Brian Lazenby
Staff Writer

A Mexican national pleaded guilty in Hamilton County Criminal Court today to charges of identity theft.

Jose Valerio-Muniz received a four-year sentence that was suspended on the more than three months he has been incarcerated since his arrest Apr. 26.

Assistant District Attorney Neal Pinkston said Mr. Valerio-Muniz, who has a lengthy criminal history and has already been deported once, faces up to 20 years in federal court.

Authorities said Mr. Valerio-Muniz is charged with illegal re-entry into the U.S., and will likely appear before a federal magistrate later this week.

Mr. Pinkston said Mr. Valerio-Muniz attempted to obtain a driver’s license using someone elses identification information.

Federal court records show that the defendant has multiple drunk driving convictions, theft, endangering the life of a child while driving drunk, weapons violations and an aggravated assault conviction out of Whitfield County, Ga., in which Mr. Valerio-Muniz initially was charged with homicide.

Federal authorities said he has been identified as a gang member by several tattoos.

E-mail Brian Lazenby at blazenby@timesfreepress.com

See tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press for full coverage.


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Chattanooga Times Free Press
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