Removed Alien Charged With Illegally Returning To U.S.

PITTSBURGH - A resident of Michocan, Mexico, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of reentry of removed alien, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

The one-count indictment named Hector Cardenas-Orozco, 37, of Michocan, Mexico, as the sole defendant.

According to indictment, Cardenas-Orozco, an alien who had been deported and removed from the United States on Aug. 18, 2000, was found in the United States on March 25, 2014 without having received permission to reenter from either the Attorney General of the United States or 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 Leo M. Dillon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Department of Homeland Security 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.