Seven Previously Deported Aliens Charged With Illegal Reentry

HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that seven previously deported aliens were indicted separately on November 14, 2018, by a federal grand jury for illegal reentry into the United States. These matters arose in counties throughout the District including Cumberland, Dauphin, Lackawanna,  and York.

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Esterlindo Torres-Varela, age 34, of Honduras, was previously deported from the United States to Honduras in January 2016.  He is alleged to have illegally reentered the United States sometime after January 2016, and was found in the United States in York County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.

Under federal law, Torres-Varela faces a maximum penalty of twenty years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.  

Manuel Rodriguez-Martinez, age 30, of Honduras, was previously deported from the United States to Honduras in August 2011.  He is alleged to have illegally reentered the United States sometime after August 2011, and was found in the United States in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.

Miguel Morales-Ayala, age 28, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in June 2016.  He is alleged to have illegally reentered the United States sometime after June 2016, and was found in the United States in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.

Rigoberto Balbuena-Guzman, age 46, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in April 2012.  He is alleged to have illegally reentered the United States sometime after April 2012, and was found in the United States in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.

Maximiliano Santiz-Jimenez, age 32, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in March 2010.  He is alleged to have illegally reentered the United States sometime after March 2010, and was found in the United States in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.

Constantino Pascual-Velasco, age 37, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in November 2014.  He is alleged to have illegally reentered the United States sometime after November 2014, and was found in the United States in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.

Victor Vazquez-Beristain, age 46, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in June 2011.  He is alleged to have illegally reentered the United States sometime after June 2011, and was found in the United States in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.

Under federal law, Rodriguez-Martinez, Morales-Ayala, Balbuena-Guzman, Santiz-Jimenez, Pascual-Velasco, and Vazquez-Beristain 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).  Assistant United States Attorney James T. Clancy 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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