September 4, 2009

ILLEGAL ALIEN FOUND IN MESA COUNTY JAIL SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR UNLAWFUL REENTRY OF AN AGGRAVATED FELON

DENVER – Flavio Castaneda-Romo, age 44, a citizen and national of Mexico, was sentenced last week by U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Blackburn to serve 60 months (5 years) in federal prison for unlawful reentry of an aggravated felon, United States Attorney David Gaouette and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Field Office Director John Longshore announced.  Castaneda-Romo appeared at the sentencing hearing in custody, and was remanded.

Flavio Castaneda-Romo was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver on March 12, 2008.  He pled guilty before Judge Blackburn on May 28, 2009.  He was sentenced by the Judge on August 28, 2009.

According to the stipulated facts contained in the defendant’s plea agreement, on October 1, 2001, Castaneda-Romo was convicted in United States District Court in Kansas of possession with intent to distribute approximately 96 pounds of marijuana.  He was sentenced to serve 57 months in federal prison for that crime.  On February 11, 2005, Castaneda-Romo was deported from the United States to Mexico through El Paso, Texas.  On January 28, 2008, the defendant was found in the Mesa County jail during a routine check conducted by ICE. 

During a subsequent interview Castaneda-Romo admitted that he is a citizen and national of Mexico, that he has a prior conviction, and that he deported after serving a prison sentence for his crime.  He also stated that he last re-entered the United States on approximately March 16, 2005 by jumping a fence and getting into his personal car.  His return to the United States was not authorized by the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security or any authorized official of the United States.  He was subsequently charged with unlawful reentry of an aggravated felon.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Detention and Removal Office.  Castaneda-Romo was in Mesa County jail on theft charges, which was investigated by the Grand Junction Police Department.

Castaneda-Romo was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dondi Osborne and Wyatt Angelo.

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