Criminal Immigration Charges Brought Against Three Illegal Aliens

     The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), announced today that charges in three unrelated cases have been brought against the following persons by a federal grand jury in Harrisburg:

     Santiago Ortiz-Ortiz, age 49, a native and citizen of Mexico in the United States illegally, was charged in a one-count indictment alleging that Ortiz-Ortiz, an alien previously arrested and deported, knowingly and unlawfully reentered the United States. He was located by federal immigration agents in York County, Pennsylvania.

     If convicted, Ortiz-Ortiz faces a maximum sentence of up to 10 years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

     Claudio Villa-Vera, age 26, a native and citizen of Ecuador in the United States illegally, was charged in a one-count indictment alleging that Villa-Vera, an alien previously been arrested and deported knowingly and unlawfully reentered the United States and was apprehended in York, Pennsylvania.

     If convicted, Villa-Vera faces a maximum sentence of up to two years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

     Jose Gonzalez-Sanchez, age 25, a native and citizen of Mexico, in the United States illegally, was charged in a one-count alleging that Gonzalez-Sanchez, an alien previously been arrested and deported knowingly and unlawfully reenter the United States and was apprehended in Franklin, Pennsylvania.

     If convicted, Gonzalez-Sanchez faces a maximum sentence of up to two years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

     The investigations were conducted by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Philadelphia and are being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian G. McDonnell.