Adult man guilty of pretending to be minor to illegally enter the country

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – An 18-year-old Honduran citizen has admitted to making false statements in a juvenile immigration case, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

On Feb. 2, Elger Fabricio Cotto-Navarro represented to law enforcement he was an unaccompanied minor as he attempted to enter the country near Roma.

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) must provide care for each unaccompanied alien child who has no lawful immigration status in the United States for whom there is no parent or legal guardian in the country with the ability to provide such care and custody. As such, Cotto-Navarro was placed in a facility charged with the housing and needs for unaccompanied alien children.

Cotto-Navarro identified himself as a minor with a date of birth of May 2007 to his case manager. However, the investigation revealed Cotto-Navarro was actually an adult posing as a minor. Cotto-Navarro denied the allegations and made a written statement, still claiming to be a juvenile.

He later acknowledged he was born in 2006 and an adult. He admitted he provided an incorrect date of birth and that his submitted written statements attesting to being a juvenile while in DHHS custody were false.

U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. will impose sentencing June 17. At that time, he faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

He will remain in custody pending that hearing.

DHHS-Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Marian is prosecuting the case.