Cosme Marin-Ponce, a 41-year-old Mexican national, received an 18-month prison sentence followed by five years of supervised release. This decision was made by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson. Marin-Ponce faced charges for illegally reentering the United States after deportation and failing to register as a sex offender, according to a release by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
Marin-Ponce had been previously deported in 2019 following a guilty plea for indecent assault involving a person under 13 years old. After deportation, officials discovered Marin-Ponce had reentered the United States without obtaining the necessary legal permission. Additionally, Marin-Ponce did not fulfill the requirement to register as a sex offender, linked to his past conviction.
Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus stated this case aligns with Operation Take Back America. The operation is a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice, which focuses on addressing illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protecting communities from violent crime. It leverages resources from Project Safe Neighborhood.
The investigation involved United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Removal Operations, and the United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera was responsible for the prosecution.