CHARLOTTE AMALIE – A Mexican national who was once deported from the United States tried to sneak in again on St. Thomas this morning, authorities said.
Filiberto Moreno, 50, of Mexico City, was arrested today on a complaint charging him with illegal reentry into the United States, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said.
Moreno made his initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller and was detained pending further proceedings, Shappert said.
According, to the complaint, Moreno was stopped by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Cyril E. King International Airport after he presented himself at Customs primary inspection. Moreno was a ticketed passenger on an American Airlines flight to Miami.
During the inspection, it was discovered that Moreno had been previously deported from the United States
and that he does not have permission to legally be here.
If convicted of illegal reentry, Moreno faces a maximum sentence of two years and a $250,000 fine.
The case is being investigated Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sigrid M. Tejo-Sprotte.