Seven Aliens Indicted on Illegal Reentry Charges

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 PRAJEDES AVILA-VALENZUELA, age 50, of Mexico, DANIEL CARDONA-TOMAS, age 23, of Guatemala, GILBERTO CAZAREZ-MONTIEL, age 29, of Mexico, JUVER EDUARDO COREAS-BATRES, age 26, of El Salvador, SANTOS ASISCLO HERNANDEZ-MEJIA, age 31, of Honduras, JUAN PENALOZA-PENALOZA, age 22, of Mexico, and  JUAN ANGEL VELASQUEZ-CANALES, age 35, of Honduras, with Illegal Reentry of a Deported Alien.

If convicted of illegal reentry of a deported alien, AVILA-VALENZUELA, previously deported twice and found in Wake County, CARDONA-TOMAS, previously deported twice and found in Sampson County, CAZAREZ-MONTIEL, previously deported twice and found in New Hanover County, COREAS-BATRES, previously deported and found in Wake County, and HERNANDEZ-MEJIA, previously deported twice and found in New Hanover County, would face maximum penalties of two years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

PENALOZA-PENALOZA, previously deported and found in Wake County, is alleged to have been previously deported subsequent to a felony conviction (possession of cocaine). Therefore, if convicted, he would face a maximum imprisonment term of 10 years, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

VELASQUEZ-CANALES, previously deported twice, found in Johnston County, is alleged to have been previously deported subsequent to aggravated felony conviction (grand larceny). 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.

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.