2 arrested in Franklin County for immigration issues

December 16, 2010

Two of seven people recently indicted on charges related to immigration were arrested in Franklin County, according to the U.S. Attorney's Officer for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

Juan Raya-Garcia, 26, a native and citizen of Mexico; and Gersom Martinez-Cordero, 29, a native and citizen of El Salvador, were both arrested in Franklin County. They were indicted on allegations they illegally re-entered the United States following arrest and deportation, according to U.S. Attorney Peter J. Smith.

Three other people under the same indictment included Tonathio Isidro-Augustine, 34, a native and citizen of Mexico, who was arrested in Cumberland County; Josue Filiberto Trejo-Covarrubias, 25, a native and citizen of Mexico, who was arrested in Lebanon County; and Jorge Eduardo Mendoza, 50, a native and citizen of Mexico, who was arrested in York County.

If convicted, all five face up to two years of imprisonment and fines of more than $250,000.

Two other indictments included Isan Contact, 25, a native and citizen of Trinidad and Tobago, who is charged with hindering removal from the United States. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years imprisonment, and fines of more than $250,000.

Richard Antonio Pena-Perez, 27, a native and citizen of the Dominican Republic, was also indicted on charges that he knowingly made a false declaration while under oath to the Immigration Court in York. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years imprisonment and fines of more than $500,000.

Smith said that each individual also faces deportation.

Announcement of the arrests came as part of an ongoing partnership between the U.S. Attorney Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which has assigned a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney to the Middle District to prosecute immigration related cases.


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