United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

CITIZEN OF HONDURAS ADMITS ILLEGALLY RE-ENTERING THE U.S.

Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE LUIS CUELLAR-SALAZAR, also known as Jose Salazar, 33, a citizen of Honduras, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to one count of illegally re-entering the United States after being deported.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, CUELLAR re-entered the United States illegally after twice being deported to Honduras, on September 21, 2000 and August 15, 2001.  Each deportation followed a criminal conviction.  On April 23, 2007, CUELLAR was arrested in Norwalk.  He subsequently was convicted of a crime and sentenced to six months of imprisonment.

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.

Judge Thompson has scheduled sentencing for July 11, 2008, at which time CUELLAR faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000.

This case was investigated by Deportation Officers of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Detention and Removal Operations.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Krishna R. Patel.

CONTACT:

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