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Florida man sentenced for illegal re-entry, gun possession

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - A 46-year-old Mexican national was sentenced to more than seven years in prison for re-entry after deportation, possession of a firearm and making a false statement following a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)-led investigation.

According to the charges and other court records, Fausto Jaimes-Santibanez, of Lake Worth, Fla., was involved in shooting where a mechanic was seriously injured. He was identified as the shooter by eye witnesses.

Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputies located and arrested Jaimes after a search of his home revealed a loaded semi-automatic 0.22-caliber Ruger handgun wrapped up in his shirt with one round in the chamber and eight in the magazine. A box of 0.22-caliber ammunition and three additional rounds were found in Jaimes' truck and pockets respectively. The investigation revealed that the mechanic was shot with a 0.22-caliber firearm.

Jaimes made a false statement to the deputies by claiming U.S. citizenship. He denied being the shooter, but admitted to possessing the weapon, reloading the weapon after the shooting, and making an agreement with someone else to shoot the victim.

ICE investigation confirmed that Jaimes was removed from the United States on three occasions: April 18, 1994, April 22, 1999 and Nov. 4, 2003. He will be deported again after completion of his sentence.

He was charged with possessing a firearm while an alien unlawfully in the United States, reentry after deportation and making a false claim to U.S. citizenship.

On Nov. 14, 2008, Jaimes entered guilty plea to all three offenses pursuant to a plea agreement before U.S. District Judge Kenneth Ryskamp.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney A. Marie Villafana.