The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania has announced that Porfirio Peralta-Nunez, 46, of York, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury. The charges relate to Peralta-Nunez's alleged illegal reentry into the United States after a prior removal.
Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus stated that the indictment alleges Peralta-Nunez was previously deported from the United States on August 20, 2019, from Alexandria, Louisiana. He was allegedly found in the United States without first obtaining legal permission to reenter. The indictment further alleges that he was encountered in York County, Pennsylvania, on October 24, 2023, after being removed following a conviction for drug trafficking in New Jersey.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa will prosecute the case.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at addressing illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protecting communities from violent crime. The operation utilizes resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
If convicted, Peralta-Nunez could face a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment, a term of supervised release, and a fine. However, any sentence would be determined by a judge considering the applicable federal sentencing statutes and guidelines.
It is important to note that indictments and criminal informations are allegations. All charged individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
