Say What: Man using new fingertips in jail on drug charges
Press-Telegram wire reports
02/19/2006
www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_3524352
YAKIMA, Wash. — A man who had his fingertips surgically removed to avoid being identified has been sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of drug trafficking.
Federal prosecutors said Jesus Jimenez-Mejia, 29, was deported to Mexico in 1996 and illegally returned to the United States after having his fingertips surgically altered to make a fingerprint comparison impossible.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bud Ellis said Jimenez-Mejia had his fingertips replaced with fingertips from another human being. He said authorities do not know where the replacement fingertips came from.

He was already in custody on immigration charges in May when authorities launched a series of raids that resulted in more than 30 arrests on drug and immigration charges.

He was sentenced to 10 years in jail this week, and will be deported after he gets out of prison, officials said.

"Assistant U.S. Attorney Bud Ellis said Jimenez-Mejia the illegal had his fingertips replaced with fingertips from another human being"