Citizen of Mexico Pleads Guilty to Third Illegal Reentry Offense

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE DEL CARMEN HERNANDEZ HERNANDEZ, 41, a citizen of Mexico last residing in Hartford, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to one count of illegally reentering the U.S. after being deported.  HERNANDEZ also admitted that he violated the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction for illegally reentering the U.S.

According to court documents and statements made in court, between 1999 and 2009, HERNANDEZ, who has never held legal status in the U.S., sustained multiple state convictions, including convictions for assault, threatening and operating under the influence.  In April 2009, he was removed to Mexico.  HERNANDEZ unlawfully reentered the U.S., returned to Connecticut and was subsequently convicted in state court on charges of evasion with injury, and criminal mischief.  After he was arrested in Hartford, in March 2013, on breach of peace and criminal mischief offenses, HERNANDEZ was identified by federal immigration authorities and was charged and convicted in federal court of reentry of a removed alien.  On September 10, 2013, he was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 12 months of imprisonment.  In April 2014, he was again deported to Mexico.

HERNANDEZ illegally reentered the U.S. a second time and returned to Connecticut.  In November 2015, HERNANDEZ was arrested by Hartford Police for driving under the influence.  He subsequently was charged and convicted in federal court of reentry of a removed alien and, on July 15, 2016, was sentenced to 12 months and one day of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.  On July 26, 2016, he was convicted in state court of operating under the influence and was sentenced to three years of incarceration, suspended after one year.  After he served his federal and state sentences, he was removed to Mexico in May 2017.

HERNANDEZ illegally reentered the U.S. a third time and, on January 11, 2018, was arrested by the Hartford Police Department for multiple motor vehicle violations, including operating under the influence.  He has been detained since his arrest.

HERNANDEZ faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years for illegal reentry, and a maximum term of imprisonment of two years for violating his supervised release.  Judge Meyer scheduled sentencing for October 30, 2018.

This matter is being investigated 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.