HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that four previously deported aliens were indicted separately by a federal grand jury with illegal re-entry into the United States by a previously deported alien.
According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Jose Coronado-Garcia, age 36, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico on four prior occasions, March 16, 2009, March 20, 2009, May 30, 2011 and Dec. 25, 2015. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after December 2015, and was found in the United States in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.
Jesus Vergara-Ponce, age 35, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in January 2000. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after January 2000, and was found in the United States in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.
Alix Masias-Serrano, age 43, of Honduras, was previously deported from the United States to Honduras in August 2008 and February 2009. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after February 2009 and was found in the United States in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers.
Under federal law, Coronado-Garcia, Vergara-Ponce, and Masias-Serrano face a maximum penalty of two years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.
Antonio Mendez-Garcia, age 52, of Mexico, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico on five occasions, April 2003, March 2006, December 2006, June 2007, and August 2010. He is alleged to have illegally re-entered the United States sometime after August 2010, and was found in the United States in Franklin County, Pennsylvania after eluding examination or inspection by immigration officers. In August 2010, he was convicted in the Middle District of Pennsylvania of illegal reentry by a previously deported alien, an offense which subjects him to enhanced penalties in the current case.
Because of Mendez-Garcia’s previous conviction, under federal law he faces a maximum penalty of ten years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.
This matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Prosecution has been assigned to Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian G. McDonnell.
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.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
