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ADDITIONAL DEFENDANTS PLEAD GUILTY TO OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE
IN U.S. INVESTIGATION OF LUIS POSADA CARRILES
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Five associates
of Cuban exile Luis Posada Carriles have pleaded guilty in the Western District
of Texas to charges of obstruction of justice
in connection with the U.S. government’s investigation of Posada Carriles,
Michael J. Mullaney, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas
announced
today.
Late yesterday, Ruben Lopez-Castro, 69, and Jose Pujol, 78, each entered
pleas of guilty to a one-count superseding criminal information that charged
each defendant
with obstruction of justice. The plea occurred before U.S. District Judge
Kathleen Cardone. Each defendant faces a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment,
a
fine of $250,000, three years supervised release and a $100 special assessment.
Sentencing for the pair was scheduled for March 13, 2008.
On Dec. 3, 2007, Ernesto Abreu also pleaded guilty to an obstruction of justice
count in the Western District of Texas in connection with the same investigation.
On Nov. 16, 2007, two additional defendants, Osvaldo Mitat and Santiago Alvarez
each entered pleas of guilty to obstruction of justice in the case. Sentencing
for Abreu, Mitat and Alvarez has been scheduled for Feb. 1, 2008.
A federal grand jury in the Western District of Texas subpoenaed each of
the defendants to testify in the course of its investigation into allegedly
false
statements made to the government made by Posada Carriles about his unlawful
entry to the United States and other matters.
Each of the defendants was granted immunity from prosecution from any self-incriminating
statements and was ordered to testify by the U.S. District Court in the Western
District of Texas. Not withstanding the grant of immunity and court order
compelling their testimony, the defendants refused to testify before the
grand jury about
the subject of its investigation. By doing so, the defendants did unlawfully
and corruptly influence, obstruct and impede, and endeavor to influence,
obstruct, and impede the due administration of justice.
The investigation into this matter is being conducted by the Federal Bureau
of Investigation and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The case is
being
prosecuted by Michael J. Mullaney, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District
of Texas for purposes of this prosecution, as well as Trial Attorneys John
W. Van Lonkhuyzen and Paul Ahern, from the Counter-Terrorism Section of the
Justice
Department’s National Security Division. |
