Source: Office of United States Attorneys
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Guatemala has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of illegal re-entry of a removed alien, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Josue Raul Ascon-Morales, 36, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on or about March 18, 2008, Ascon-Morales was removed from the United States. On or about September 1, 2024, Ascon-Morales was charged by the Moon Township Police Department for driving under the influence and driving without a license. He was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on October 22, 2024.
Ascon-Morales appeared in federal court on December 4, 2024, and was ordered detained pending trial.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to two years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Moon Township Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.