Acting U.S. Attorney Joel Louis Violanti announced the arrest and charges against Manuel Alejandro Estrada-Gonzalez, 31, from Mexico, and Juan Carlos Castro-Cidcas, 44, from El Salvador. Both individuals face charges of illegal re-entry after deportation, a crime that could result in up to two years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron J. Mango and Charles M. Kruly are managing the cases. According to the complaint against Estrada-Gonzalez, on February 20, 2025, he was identified as a suspected illegal alien at the Buffalo Airport Inn in Cheektowaga, NY. U.S. Border Patrol Agents conducted surveillance and located him at the scene where he was arrested. Records revealed that Estrada-Gonzalez had been ordered removed twice by an immigration officer in January and February of 2019.
In Castro-Cidcas's case, on February 11, 2025, agents were conducting surveillance in Cheektowaga when they checked a vehicle parked at the Hilton Garden Inn and found it registered to an illegal alien from El Salvador. On February 12, agents returned for further surveillance and observed Castro-Cidcas entering the vehicle. He initially refused to exit when approached but complied after Cheektowaga Police were called and was then taken into custody. Records indicated his previous removals occurred in August 2010 and November 2019.
Both men made initial court appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and remain detained.
The investigation involved efforts by U.S. Border Patrol led by Patrol Agent-in-Charge Martin B. Coombs along with assistance from the Cheektowaga Police Department under Chief Brian Coons's direction.
It is important to note that being charged with a crime is merely an accusation; both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
