Gulfport, Miss. – Jose Garcia Faustino, 21, of Mexico, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola to “time served” or 95 days in prison, followed by one year of supervised release, for unlawful reentry by an alien after deportation or removal, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, Jere T. Miles, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New Orleans, and Gregory K. Bovino, Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Border Patrol’s New Orleans Sector. 

As a result of this felony conviction, if Garcia Faustino were to unlawfully return again to the United States, he could face up to ten years in federal prison.  Garcia Faustino pled guilty on March 18, 2019, before Judge Guirola.

On or about January 28, 2019, an interdiction agent of the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team conducted a traffic stop on a GMC Yukon XL with South Carolina license plates at or about the 62-mile marker on interstate I-10 eastbound in Jackson County.  The agent observed eight occupants of the vehicle, including Jose Garcia Faustino.  Border Patrol Agents arrived on the scene shortly thereafter, and interviewed the occupants of the vehicle as to their citizenships, determining none had proper documents and all were illegally present in the United States. 

Of the eight total vehicle occupants (two drivers and six passengers) all were illegal aliens from the Mexican State of Guerrero.  All occupants were arrested and transported to the Border Patrol Station in Gulfport.  HSI and Border Patrol agents determined that the six passengers were being smuggled within the United States.  Further investigation revealed that Garcia Faustino is a citizen of Mexico, and previously had been ordered removed from the United States.   

 U.S. Attorney Hurst praised the cooperation exhibited by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Border Patrol, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and the City of Gautier Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Stan Harris was the prosecutor for the case.

Gulfport, Miss. – Jose Garcia Faustino and Ernesto Santiago-Baltazar, both age 21 and citizens of Mexico, pled guilty yesterday before Senior U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr. to unlawful reentry by an alien after removal, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, Special Agent in Charge Jere T. Miles with U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans, and Gregory K. Bovino, Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Border Patrol’s New Orleans Sector.

Garcia Faustino and Santiago-Baltazar are scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Guirola on June 6, 2019. They each face a maximum penalty of 2 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. They also faced removal from the United States following the completion of any prison sentence.

On or about January 28, 2019, an interdiction agent with the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team conducted a lawful traffic stop on a GMC Yukon XL with South Carolina license plates on interstate I-10 eastbound in Jackson County. The agent observed a total of eight occupants in the vehicle (2 drivers and 6 passengers), which included Garcia Faustino and Santiago-Baltazar as passengers.

Border Patrol Agents arrived on the scene shortly thereafter, and interviewed the occupants of the vehicle as to their citizenships, determining none had proper documents and all were illegally present in the United States. All eight vehicle occupants were illegal aliens from Mexico. All occupants were arrested and transported to the Border Patrol Station in Gulfport. A Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent joined Border Patrol Agents and determined the six passengers were being smuggled within the United States. Further investigation revealed that both men are citizens of Mexico and had previously been ordered removed from the United States.

U.S. Attorney Hurst praised the cooperation exhibited by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Border Patrol, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and the City of Gautier Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Stan Harris is the prosecutor for the case.