A Turkish national has been indicted on charges of illegal re-entry into the United States, according to a recent announcement by acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti. The indictment, which took place in Pittsburgh, specifically charges 60-year-old Izzet Kurt with re-entering the country after a previous deportation.
Details from the U.S. Attorney's Office state that Kurt was discovered in western Pennsylvania on or around February 25. His initial removal from the country occurred on March 15, 2018, as a consequence of a conviction for conspiracy to bring unauthorized aliens to the U.S. for profit—a crime considered an aggravated felony. The law sets a maximum penalty for this offense at 20 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000, depending on the case's specifics and any prior criminal history Kurt may have.
Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson is prosecuting the case against Kurt. Homeland Security Investigations carried out the investigation that led to the indictment. Though Kurt has been charged, it is fundamental to note that an indictment is merely an accusation, and the accused is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
