Removed Alien Charged With Illegally Re-entering United States

ERIE, Pa. - A former resident of Chiapas, Mexico has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Erie on a charge of violating federal immigration laws, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

The one-count indictment named Alejandro Perez-Diaz, 30, as the sole defendant. According to the indictment presented to the court, on or about April 22, 2013, Perez-Diaz was found to be unlawfully present within the United States. Perez-Diaz had been previously ordered deported and removed from the United States on March 18, 2010 and was removed from the United States on August 20, 2012. The defendant subsequently reentered the United States, and was found to be present in this country without the permission of the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 2 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 Christine A. Sanner is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Pennsylvania State Police and the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection 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.