Orlando Jose Jarquin Orozco, a 36-year-old citizen of Nicaragua, pled guilty on April 7 to illegal re-entry into the United States after having been previously deported, U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced on Apr. 17.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address violations of immigration law and maintain community safety in Southeast Louisiana. The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana enforces federal laws and prosecutes criminal cases to protect residents in the region, according to the official website.
According to court records, Jarquin had previously been deported from the United States on November 2, 2016. Before his deportation, he was convicted of second-degree battery in Jefferson Parish and sentenced to two years in prison.
Jarquin now faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison, a fine up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
Courcelle praised the work of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Office of Inspector General for the Social Security Administration for their investigation into this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Katherine Kaufman led the prosecution.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative that utilizes resources from the Department of Justice with aims including addressing illegal immigration and targeting transnational criminal organizations.
The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District operates under appointment by the President with Senate approval as chief federal law enforcement officer for Southeast Louisiana according to its official website. The office is responsible for enforcing federal laws through criminal prosecutions and civil matters while handling debt collection duties for the government.
