Seven Previously Deported Aliens Charged With Illegal Re-Entry

HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that seven previously deported aliens were indicted separately on August 29, 2018, by a federal grand jury for illegal re-entry into the United States. 

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Mario Mendez-Morales, age 41, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in August 2009, March 2010, May 2010, and February 2013.  He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after February 2013 and was found in the United States in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.

Mendez-Morales faces a maximum penalty of ten years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.  

Bernardo Palma-Flores, age 32, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in March 2018.  He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after March 2018, and was found in the United States in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.

Carlos Sales-Picazo, age 27, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in January 2010.  He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after January 2010, and was found in the United States in York County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.

Sixto Hernandez-Arias, age 44, of El Salvador, was previously deported from the United States to El Salvador in June 2012.  He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after June 2012, and was found in the United States in York County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.

Eigner Zunun-Gonzalez, age 27, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in August 2009.  He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after August 2009, and was found in the United States in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.

Facundo Gregorio-Gonzalez, age 42, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in August 2015.  He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after August 2015, and was found in the United States in Union County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.

Mario Castillo-Carmona, age 28, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in May 2011.  He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after May 2011, and was found in the United States in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.

Under federal law, Palma-Flores, Sales-Picazo, Hernandez-Arias, Zunun-Gonzalez, Gregorio-Gonzalez, and Castillo-Carmona all face a maximum penalty of two years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. 

These cases were investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).  Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian G. McDonnell is 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.

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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