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Three Colombian Nationals Arrested at the Cyril E. King Airport for Improper Entry and Visa Fraud

Three Colombian nationals were arrested on Dec. 31, 2021, at the Cyril E. King Airport on criminal charges related to their alleged improper entry into the United States and the use of fraudulent visas.

According to court documents, Oscar David Mira Aristizabal, 49, Alexander Lopera Castaneda, 31, and Maria Eugenia Alzate Sosa, 29, arrived in St. Thomas, USVI, by boat from St. Martin on Dec. 27, 2021, without presenting themselves at a port of entry.

On Dec. 30, 2021, they presented themselves to Customs and Border Protection for inspection at the Cyril E. King Airport, where they presented visas that showed signs of alteration and lacked certain security features. When automated databases were checked, it was determined that the individuals had no pending applications for entry documents with Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Mira Aristizabal, Lopera Castaneda, and Alzate Sosa are charged with improper entry, and visa fraud. If convicted, each individual faces a maximum penalty of 126 months in prison.

A federal district court judge will determine their sentence. In addition, Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Sleeper is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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