Citizen of Mexico Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Illegally Reentering U.S. after Deportation

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ALBERTO SILVA-GARCIA, 46, a citizen of Mexico recently residing in Norwalk, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Alker Meyer in New Haven to 15 months of imprisonment for illegally reentering the U.S. after being deported.

According to court documents and statements made in court, SILVA-GARCIA was deported from the U.S. to his native Mexico in March 1999 after sustaining a domestic violence conviction in California. Between March 1999 and April 2004, SILVA-GARCIA was encountered multiple times in California by immigration agents, twice while in custody following his apprehension and conviction for controlled substance violations, and on several other occasions following his apprehension at the U.S. border for falsely claiming U.S. citizenship. On 11 documented occasions, SILVA-GARCIA was removed to Mexico by foot.

In August 2009, SILVA-GARCIA was arrested for motor vehicle offenses in Norwalk. He was subsequently charged with illegal reentry in U.S. District Court in Connecticut and was sentenced to 12 months of imprisonment. In December 2010, SILVA-GARCIA was again removed to Mexico.

SILVA-GARCIA illegally reentered the U.S. and, in March 2015, was charged with larceny and burglary offenses in superior court in Norwalk. The charges stemmed from a crime spree involving the theft of construction tools and equipment from job sites and parked construction vehicles. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years of incarceration.

SILVA-GARCIA has been detained in ICE custody since October 2016. On January 30, 2017, he pleaded guilty to one count of illegal reentry of a removed alien.

This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deborah R. Slater.