BIRMINGHAM – A federal grand jury today indicted two men with prior criminal convictions for illegally re-entering the United States after having previously been deported, U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and ICE Homeland Security Investigations Resident Agent in Charge David Denton announced.

FRANCISCO ALATORRE-CHAVEZ, 39, and JAIME SAENZ-ARENIVAR, 39, both of Mexico, are charged in separate indictments filed in U.S. District Court.

"The common factor in these cases is a history of violence," Vance said. "We are committed to prosecuting individuals who have previously been deported after entering this country illegally and have committed serious crimes while here."

Alatorre-Chavez was arrested by Alabaster Police on July 15 for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, according to a criminal complaint and supporting affidavit filed in federal court. A check of criminal records showed Alatorre-Chavez was convicted in Jefferson County Circuit Court in December 2011 for unlawful possession of a controlled substance, and that he had prior arrests for domestic assault, failure to appear and DUI, according to the affidavit. He was removed from the United States to Mexico at Brownsville, Texas, in December 2011, according to his indictment.

Saenz-Arenivar was arrested by the Limestone County Sheriff's Office for criminal trespassing on May 22, according to a federal criminal complaint and affidavit filed against him. Criminal records cited in the affidavit show Saenz-Arenivar was convicted for second degree assault in Limestone County in 2005 and has two felony DUI convictions there. He was removed from the United States to Mexico in 2006 and again in 2007, according to his indictment.

A third man, CARLOS ALBERTO PINEDA-PALACIOS, 28, of El Salvador, also was indicted today for illegally re-entering the United States after having been deported to El Salvador in September 2004. A criminal complaint and affidavit in Pineda-Palacios' case states he was arrested in Alabaster in July on administrative deportation charges.

Deportation officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated Alatorre-Chavez's and Saenz-Arenivar's cases, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Whisonant Sr. is prosecuting. HSI special agents investigated Pineda-Palacios's case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan is prosecuting.

The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges. It is the government's responsibility to prove a defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

 

 

 

 

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