Five Previously Deported Aliens Charged With Illegal Reentry

HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that five previously deported aliens were indicted separately on February 27, 2019, by a federal grand jury for illegal reentry into the United States. These matters arose in counties throughout the District including Bradford, Columbia, Cumberland, Luzerne, and York.

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Leovijildo Mitra-Hernandez, age 38, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in July 2008.  He is alleged to have illegally reentered the United States again sometime after July 2008, and was found in the United States in York County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.

Jose Luis Ochoa-Arevalo, age 38, of El Salvador, was previously deported from the United States to El Salvador in February 2008.  He is alleged to have illegally reentered the United States sometime after February 2008, and was found in the United States in Columbia County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.

Jose Antonio Rascon-Romero, age 30, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in May 2012.  He is alleged to have illegally reentered the United States sometime after May 2012, and was found in the United States in Bradford County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.

Miguel Diaz-Palma, age 45, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in October 2011.  He is alleged to have illegally reentered the United States sometime after October 2011 and was found in the United States in Wilkes Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.

Tony Hernan Rengifo-Rosas, age 53, of Peru, was previously deported from the United States to Peru in September 2001.  He is alleged to have illegally reentered the United States sometime after September 2001, and was found in the United States in Lemoyne, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.

These cases were investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).  Assistant United States Attorneys James T. Clancy and Joanne Hoffman are prosecuting the cases.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Defendants face a maximum penalty of two years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.  Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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