Nine Aliens Indicted on Illegal Reentry Charges, False Representation of a Social Security Account Number, and Aggravated Identity Theft

RALEIGH – Robert J. Higdon, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announces that a federal grand jury in Raleigh has returned indictments charging JOSE RAUDILIO ACOSTA-HERNANDEZ, age 28, of Honduras, SAUL CISNEROS-FRANCO, age 52, of Mexico, AGRIPINO CRISOSTOMO-LOPEZ, age 38, of Guatemala, JORGE GOMEZ-PEREZ, age 48, of Mexico, JOSE QUINVERO, age 36, of El Salvador, MARIO SANTANA, age 29, of Mexico, JOSE CARMEN SOTO, age 44, of Mexico, and VICTORIANO VALENZUELA-ROJAS, with Illegal Reentry of a Deported Alien.

Additionally, a federal grand jury in Raleigh has returned an indictment charging MARIA ASUNCION LUCAS-MENDEZ, age 31, of Guatemala, with False Representation of a Social Security Account Number, and Aggravated Identity Theft.

If convicted of Illegal Reentry of a Deported Alien, ACOSTA-HERNANDEZ, found in Robeson County, CRISOSTOMO-LOPEZ, found in Pitt County, GOMEZ-PEREZ, found in Pender County, QUINVERO, found in Wake County, SANTANA, found in Sampson County, SOTO, found in Harnett County, and VALENZUELA-ROJAS, found in Duplin County, would face maximum penalties of two years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

CISNEROS-FRANCO, found in Wilson County, is alleged to have been previously deported subsequent to aggravated felony convictions (trafficking in a controlled substance and illegal reentry of an aggravated felon). Therefore, if convicted, he would face a maximum imprisonment term of 20 years, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

If convicted of False Representation of a Social Security Account Number and Aggravated Identity Theft, LUCAS-MENDEZ, found in Wayne County, would face maximum penalties of seven years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations.  The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

The cases are being investigated by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, and Homeland Security Investigations.