Former Norwalk Resident Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering U.S. after Being Deported

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MIGUEL ANGEL ARCOS-VASQUEZ, also known as “Dimas Fernando Herrarte,” 27, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 12 months and one day of imprisonment for illegally reentering the U.S. after being deported.  Arcos-Vasquez is a citizen of Guatemala last residing in Norwalk.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in November 2011, Arcos-Vasquez attempted to enter the U.S. at the Mexican border using the identity of a Mexican citizen.  He was denied entry into the U.S. and returned by foot to Mexico.

In March 2014, Arcos-Vasquez was arrested by the Stratford Police Department for a burglary offense.  In April 2014, he also was charged with failure to appear.  He was not encountered by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at this time.

In approximately 2015, Arcos-Vasquez returned to Guatemala voluntarily.  In January 2016, he attempted to enter the U.S. three times through Texas, but was removed to Mexico after each attempt.

On January 24, 2017, Arcos-Vasquez was arrested by the Stamford Police Department on charges of threatening in the first degree.  On January 27, 2017, under the name of Dimas Herrarte-Ramirez, he was charged by the Norwalk Police Department with sale of a hallucinogen/narcotic and criminal possession of a firearm.  He has been detained since that time, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was notified.

On October 19, 2017, Arcos-Vasquez was sentenced in state court to five years of incarceration, execution suspended after two years.  His state prison term is scheduled to expire in January 2019.

Judge Hall ordered Arcos-Vasquez to begin serving his federal sentence upon his release from state prison.

On August 17, 2018, Arcos-Vasquez pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally reentering the U.S. after being deported.

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