Citizen of Guatemala Pleads Guilty to Immigration Charge

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that HECTOR OVIDIO DIAZ GARRIDO, 41, a citizen of Guatemala last residing in Norwalk, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to one count of reentry of a removed alien.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Diaz Garrido, who has never held legal status in the U.S., was deported from the U.S. to Guatemala in June 2011 following his March 2010 conviction in Connecticut Superior Court in Norwalk for felony assault on a police officer.

In April 2012, Diaz Garrido was encountered by U.S. Border Patrol in Weslaco, Texas.  His prior order of removal was reinstated and he was again deported to Guatemala.

On November 6, 2014, Diaz Garrido, using the name “Jimy Diaz,” was arrested by the Norwalk Police Department and charged with operating under the influence of alcohol.  On March 20, 2015, Diaz Garrido, again using the name “Jimy Diaz,” was arrested by Norwalk Police on a charge of operating a motor vehicle while under suspension.  Diaz Garrido’s true identity was confirmed through fingerprint analysis in November 2018 after he was convicted of operating while under the influence, operating a motor vehicle while under suspension, and three separate counts of failure to appear, and he had served his state sentence.

Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for May 20, 2019, at which time Diaz Garrido faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deborah R. Slater.