United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

CITIZEN OF DOMINICAN REPUBLIC PLEADS GUILTY TO ILLEGALLY REENTERING THE U.S. FOLLOWING DEPORTATION

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MARINO AVALO, also known as “Jose Ventura” and “Carlos Irizarry,” a citizen of the Dominican Republic, pleaded guilty today before United States Magistrate Judge Donna F. Martinez in Hartford to one count of unlawful presence in the United States following deportation.

According to court documents and statements made in court, AVALO was deported to the Dominican Republic in January 1993 and again in March 1995, both times after having been convicted of an aggravated felony involving the distribution of cocaine.  AVALO again illegally reentered the U.S. and was found in Connecticut on June 16, 2010.

AVALO is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Robert N. Chatigny on December 21, 2010, at which time AVALO faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000.

AVALO has been detained since June 16, 2010.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan S. Freimann.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov