Acting United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that BENJAMIN GARCIA-VASQUEZ, age 50, a native of El Salvador, was charged yesterday in a one-count Indictment with illegal entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
According to the Indictment, GARCIA-VASQUEZ was previously removed from the United States on Sept. 11, 2012, Oct. 26, 2012, April 19, 2013, Oct. 25, 2013, and February 4, 2014. GARCIA-VASQUEZ was found in the Eastern District of Louisiana on July 26, 2017, without having received permission from the Attorney General of the United States or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to reenter the country.
If convicted, GARCIA-VASQUEZ faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years in prison, a fine of $250,000, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment fee.
Acting U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that an Indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Acting U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney David Sinkman is in charge of the prosecution.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
