A United Kingdom citizen pleaded guilty on May 5 in U.S. District Court in Bangor to entering the United States without inspection.
According to court records, Ibrahim Ayyub Khan, age 27, and three other men crossed the heavily wooded border between Quebec and Somerset County during the early morning hours of April 3. Their point of entry was near the Saint Zacharie, Maine port of entry, which was staffed by agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations.
The four men were seen walking east on Golden Road by passersby who reported their presence to an Office of Field Operations agent. The agent then informed the U.S. Border Patrol station in Jackman. Agents from both agencies responded to the area, located Khan and his companions, and took them into custody without incident. When questioned about their citizenship, all four stated they were citizens of the United Kingdom before being transported back to the Jackman Border Patrol station.
Khan faces a maximum sentence of six months in prison and a $5,000 fine. Sentencing will occur after completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The case was investigated by agents from U.S. Border Patrol, Office of Field Operations, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
This case is part of Operation Take Back Americaâa nationwide initiative that uses resources from across the Department of Justice to address illegal immigration issues as well as target cartels and transnational criminal organizations through programs such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine serves as chief federal law enforcement officer for Maine; prosecutes federal crimes; handles civil matters involving government interests; collects debts owed to federal agencies; builds alliances with local law enforcement partners; operates offices in Portland and Bangor; enhances quality-of-life through law enforcement efforts; covers all regions within Maineâand functions as a federal law enforcement agencyâaccording to the official website.
