A 21-year-old British citizen pleaded guilty Monday in federal court in Bangor to entering the United States illegally and lying to investigators about it, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Hameed Mohammed Nagi and three other men were walking through heavily wooded terrain along the Quebec-Somerset County border in the pre-dawn hours of April 3 when they entered the U.S. within a few hundred yards of the Saint Zacharie port of entry, according to a press release.
After emerging from the woods, the group was spotted walking east on the Golden Road by passersby who alerted a federal agent. Border Patrol and customs officers responded and took all four into custody without incident.
When questioned, Nagi claimed he and his companions had been hiking in Canada and accidentally crossed the border.
Nagi is the third of four men to plead guilty to the charges.
Nagi faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the false statement charge, and up to six months and a $5,000 fine on the illegal entry charge. Sentencing has not been scheduled.