Nicolae Strava, a 30-year-old Romanian citizen, was sentenced to nine months in prison for illegally reentering the United States after being previously removed. The sentence was handed down by Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann in Williamsport.
Strava was indicted following his arrest for theft by deception in Centre County, Pennsylvania, on September 20, 2024. He had been removed from the country under a court order on April 23, 2019, through Houston, Texas. Strava pleaded guilty to illegal reentry before sentencing.
An ICE detainer has been placed on Strava for deportation proceedings.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Zenzinger prosecuted the case.
“This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).”
