Nicolae Strava, a 30-year-old Romanian citizen, has been sentenced to nine months in prison for illegally reentering the United States after previously being removed. The sentence was handed down by Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Strava was indicted by a federal grand jury following his arrest for theft by deception in Centre County, Pennsylvania, on September 20, 2024. Authorities stated that Strava had been removed from the U.S. under a court order on April 23, 2019, through Houston, Texas. He pleaded guilty to illegal reentry before sentencing.
An ICE detainer has been lodged against Strava as he faces deportation proceedings.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Zenzinger prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), an initiative using Department of Justice resources to address illegal immigration and target cartels and transnational criminal organizations through coordinated efforts with programs such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
“According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Strava was indicted by a federal grand jury after being arrested for theft by deception in Centre County, Pennsylvania, on September 20, 2024. Strava had previously been removed from the United States pursuant to a court order on April 23, 2019, through Houston, Texas. Strava pleaded guilty to illegal reentry prior to being sentenced.”
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