AKWESASNE -- A Dominican man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court Friday to illegally re-entering the United States following removal, according to Syracuse-based United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian.

Rafael Zapata, 67, of the Dominican Republic, faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, up to $250,000 in fines and three years' post-release supervision.

Zapata had been deported from the United States to the Dominican Republic in 2008 after being convicted of a drug trafficking crime in 2003 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, according to Hartunian.

He will be sentenced on Feb. 3 by United States District Judge Mae A. D'Agostino.

Zapata pleaded guilty to a violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which prohibits previously removed aliens from entering, attempting to enter, or being found in the United States without permission, Hartunian said.

He was encountered on July 28 by St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police officers after crossing the border on the Akwesasne reservation near Hogansburg, Hartunian said.

Border Patrol agents responded and arrested Zapata when they determined that he was an alien unlawfully present in the United States.