MAN SENTENCED FOR ENTERING U.S. ILLEGALLY

A man convicted of smuggling illegal aliens across the Mexican border has been sentenced for his own illegal border crossing, the U.S. attorney's office said.

Rosalio Gonzalez, 38, of Mexico, received 46 months in prison for the felony of illegal entry into the United States, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Price. He was sentenced by U.S. District Judge E. Richard Webber this week.

Gonzalez had lived in Mississippi and Scott counties since at least 1998 and perhaps earlier after having been deported in 1995, Price said.

Gonzalez had been discovered when his pregnant wife applied for assistance through the family services office of Mississippi County, Price said. She had presented her husband's alien registration card, which was false, he said.

Gonzalez previously had been convicted of smuggling 38 illegal aliens into the United States and had served eight months in prison before he was deported, Price said.