Four Previously Deported Aliens Charged With Illegal Re-Entry

HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that four previously deported aliens were indicted separately by a federal grand jury with illegal re-entry into the United States by a previously deported alien.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Jose Perez-Verdugo, age 37, a citizen of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico on three prior occasions in August 2008, September 2013, and March 2014. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after March 2014, and was found in the United States in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.

Under federal law, Perez-Verdugo faces a maximum penalty of two years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.

Jose Arguelles-Varillas, age 53, a citizen of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in May 2012. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after May 2012, and was found in the United States in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers. In May 2012, he was convicted in the Third District Court, Salt Lake County, State of Utah for child abuse and attempted forcible sexual abuse, offenses which subject him to enhanced penalties in the current case.

Because of Arguelles-Varillas’ previous conviction, under federal law he faces a maximum penalty of ten years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.

Maximino Mota-Ortiz, age 43, a citizen of Dominican Republic, was previously deported from the United States to the Dominican Republic in May 1997. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after May 1997, and was found in the United States in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers. In July 1995, he was convicted in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Middlesex Superior Court, for trafficking in a controlled substance, offenses which subject him to enhanced penalties in the current case.

Because of Mota-Ortiz’s previous conviction, under federal law he faces a maximum penalty of ten years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.

Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian G. McDonnell is prosecuting the cases.

Francisco Michaca-Dominguez, age 41, a citizen of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States on three separate occasions on January 2006, August 2013, and December 2013. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States in Monroe County, Pennsylvania after he was arrested for a summary offense on April 30, 2017.

Under federal law, Michaca-Dominguez faces a maximum penalty of two years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd K. Hinkley is prosecuting the case.

The cases were investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

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.

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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