Previously Deported Alien Charged With Illegal Re-Entry

HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today a federal grand jury in Harrisburg charged Joel Luis-Aguilar, age 53, with illegal re-entry into the United States by a previously deported alien. 

According to Acting United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Luis-Aguilar was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in April 2014.  He is alleged to have illegally reentered the United States again sometime after April 2014 and was found in the United States in Adams County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.

This matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joanne M. Sanderson.

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.

Luis-Aguilar faces a maximum penalty of 2 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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