U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber | U.S. Department of Justice
A Salvadoran national, Dennis Arnoldo Zeledon Hernandez, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for obstructing an agency proceeding. The case traces back to July 2016 when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials encountered Zeledon at the U.S.-Mexico border near Hidalgo, Texas. At that time, Zeledon expressed fear of gang members in El Salvador.
After being released on bond by an Immigration Judge in September 2016, Zeledon was notified of a master hearing scheduled for December 9, 2019, in Arlington, Virginia. Despite receiving notification via mail and phone hotline about this hearing, he failed to appear. Consequently, the Immigration Court ordered his removal in absentia.
In May 2023, Zeledon was arrested in York, Virginia for driving under the influence among other charges. This arrest led to his transfer to the Caroline Detention Facility (CDF) under ICE custody. On July 2, 2023, he managed a daring escape from CDF by scaling a fence and running into nearby woods.
Following his escape attempt and subsequent days on the run, law enforcement agencies conducted a fugitive search involving over 100 members across various levels. On July 7, 2023, the U.S. Marshals Task Force apprehended him at an apartment complex in Durham, North Carolina.
The announcement of his sentencing was made by Jessica D. Aber from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and Liana Castano from Enforcement and Removal Operations Washington D.C., following proceedings overseen by U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young.
The case prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Day along with former Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike C. Moore.
Further information regarding related court documents can be accessed through the websites of both the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and PACER using Case No. 3:23-cr-122.
