News : Vinton search warrant leads to six-year federal sentence for Honduras man

A Honduras man who was arrested several times in Vinton and other Iowa locations, and used an alias and false identity documents to open bank accounts, was sentenced on April 28, 2011, to six years in federal prison.

Jorge Luis Galeas-Pineda, 24, from Honduras, and who resided in 2010 in Vinton, Iowa, and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after pleading guilty on November 2, 2010, to knowingly possessing a counterfeit resident alien card not lawfully obtained. He was also accused but not formally charged with sexual abuse of a minor and child pornography.

In October, Vinton police assisted federal officers in executing a search warrant at a Vinton residence where Galeas-Pineda had at times lived. See related stories HERE.

At the guilty plea, Galeas-Pineda admitted he knowingly used a counterfeit resident alien card and a fraudulent Social Security card to open bank accounts in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Galeas-Pineda was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade. Galeas-Pineda was sentenced to 72 months’ imprisonment and a special assessment of $100 was imposed. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Defendant is subject to removal from the United States after serving his prison term.
Judge Reade imposed a sentence greater than recommended by the advisory sentencing guidelines. Judge Reade found several reasons, including the following, justified the sentence:
• Galeas-Pineda engaged in numerous other criminal acts for which Galeas-Pineda had not been previously prosecuted – these included sexual abuse of a minor, possession of drugs, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor;
• Galeas-Pineda’s stated intention to illegally re-enter the United States after his deportation;
• Galeas-Pineda’s repeated violations of a state no contact order;
• Galeas-Pineda’s attempts to thwart a sex abuse investigation by planning to remove the victim to Honduras;
• Galeas-Pineda’s use of aliases to conceal his true identity and thwart his apprehension;
• Galeas-Pineda’s continuous driving without a license or financial responsibility; and
• Galeas-Pineda’s willing participation in the production of child pornography.
Galeas-Pineda was also ordered to have no direct or indirect contact with the minor sex abuse victim or her family.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Resident Agent in Charge Michael Vail noted local authorities worked closely with his office to investigate and prosecute Galeas-Pineda. Vail commented “HSI is committed to protecting our homeland by all reasonable means. We appreciate the assistance of our local partners in pursuing this goal.”
Galeas-Pineda is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard L. Murphy and investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Vinton, Iowa, Police Department.
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is CR 10-00117.