United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

CITIZEN OF NICARAGUA CHARGED WITH UNLAWFUL PRESENCE IN U.S.

Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Hartford has returned a one-count Indictment charging CESAR AUGUSTO MENDEZ-DARCE, 27, a citizen of Nicaragua, with unlawful presence in the United States following deportation.  The Indictment was returned today.

The Indictment alleges that MENDEZ-DARCE was deported to Nicaragua on September 8, 2003, and subsequently found in Hartford on March 26, 2008.

Before re-entering the United States, anyone who has been deported must have the express consent of the U.S. Attorney General or his successor, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

If convicted, MENDEZ-DARCE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two years and a fine of up to $250,000.

Acting U.S. Attorney Dannehy stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is entitled to a fair trial at which it is the Government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan S. Freimann.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov