Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, today announced that a grand jury returned a one-count indictment charging Antonio Lopez-Garcia, 54, with illegally reentering the United States following his deportation.

The indictment alleges that Lopez-Garcia is a citizen of Mexico and an alien who was previously removed or deported from the United States on July 23, 2001, after his conviction for an aggravated felony.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip J. Tripi, following investigation by agents of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

 

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