SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers arrested Monday an alien from the Dominican Republic that falsely applied for admission as a lawful permanent resident of the United States, after arriving on the San Juan –Santo Domingo ferry.
John Alexander Sanchez-Johnson, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, appeared Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce McGiverin charged with a violation to Title 8, United States Code, Section 1325, for attempting to enter or obtain entry to the United States by a willfully false or misleading representation or the willful concealment of a material fact.
Mr. Sanchez-Johnson arrived at the San Juan Seaport Pan-American Dock West on board the ferry M/V Kydon from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and applied for admission as a lawful permanent resident presenting to CBP Officers a Dominican Republic passport and a Permanent Resident Card bearing his name.
During secondary inspection, CBP officers found a 2013 conviction of Mr. Sanchez-Johnson issued by a Miami Dade County Court for armed robbery. In 2014, an Immigration Judge granted a voluntary departure that ended his lawful permanent status.
Assistant US Attorney Evelyn Canals will be in charge of the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Puerto Rico.
If convicted Mr. Sanchez-Johnson faces imprisonment for not more than 6 monts, or a fine, or both.
All defendants are innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.
CBP’s mission is to facilitate travel while maintaining the highest standards of security for those who live here and for those who come to visit. On a typical day last year, CBP officers processed more than 1 million travelers arriving airports, seaports or border crossings.
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