Honduran Removed Twice Indicted for Illegally Re-entering the U.S.

PITTSBURGH - A former resident of Honduras has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating federal immigration laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

The one-count indictment, returned on March 20, named Belfran Joel Najera-Chirinos, 37, as the sole defendant.

According to the indictment presented to the court, on or about February 19, 2019, Najera-Chirinos was found to be unlawfully present within the United States. Najera-Chirinos had been previously ordered deported and removed from the United States on March 13, 2007 and was removed from the United States on November 9, 2018. The defendant subsequently reentered the United States, and was found to be present in this country without the permission of the Attorney General of the United States or her successor the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of two years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Ross E. Lenhardt is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)/Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.