Twice-Deported Citizen of Guatemala Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for Illegally Reentering U.S.

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, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 21 months of imprisonment for illegally reentering the U.S. after being deported.

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 after he had served his state sentence.

On February 22, 2019, Diaz Garrido pleaded guilty in federal court to reentry of a removed alien.

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