News and Press Releases
Prosecutions continue in illegal entry cases involving those with prior criminal records
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 19, 2012
MINNEAPOLIS – In the District of Minnesota, separate charges have been filed against two Mexican nationals who allegedly entered the United States illegally after being deported as criminals. Earlier today in federal court, two individuals were each charged via indictments with one count of illegal re-entry after deportation.
Daniel Gonzalez-Deleone, age 34, was charged in the first case. His indictment alleges that on May 15, 2012, he was found in the U.S. illegally after having been previously deported. His deportation followed a 2005 California conviction for sale or transportation of marijuana. On May 15, he was arrested for loitering and for public consumption, and was held in the Hennepin County jail when he was identified as an illegal alien with a criminal record. That identification was made though the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (“ICE”) Criminal Alien Program (“CAP”). The goal of that program is to locate criminal aliens incarcerated in federal and state prisons, as well as in local jails, and prevent them from being released into society by having them federally prosecuted for illegally re-entering the U.S. In some instances, federal prosecution will occur only after the individual is prosecuted for the recent underlying offense.
If convicted of the federal charge now levied against him, Gonzalez-Deleon faces a potential maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, followed by deportation. All sentenceswill be determined by a federal district court judge. This case is the result of an investigation by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (“ICE ERO”). It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lola Velazquez-Aguilu.
In the second case, Milton Gonzalez, age 35, was also charged with illegally entering the U.S. following deportation. His indictment alleges that on May 7, 2012, he was found in the U.S. after having been previously deported in 2005, following a Wisconsin conviction for possession with intent to distribute amphetamine. Most recently, Gonzalez was stopped for speeding by the Prairie Island, Minnesota, tribal police and arrested on active warrants for possession/sale of counterfeit checks. He was in the Dakota County Jail when he was identified via the CAP.
If convicted, Gonzalez faces a potential maximum penalty of 20 years. All sentences will be determined by a federal district court judge. This case is the result of an investigation by ICE—ERO. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin P. Johnson.
Both men will remain in custody until their current federal cases are resolved. To learn more about the CAP, visit www.ice.gov/criminal-alien-program/
An indictment is a determination by a grand jury that there is probable cause to believe that offenses have been committed by a defendant. A defendant, of course, is presumed innocent until he or she pleads guilty or is proven guilty at trial.
