May 22, 2008

Honduran sentenced to 41 months in prison for illegally re-entering the U.S.

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Mario Fidencio Flores-Vasquez, also known as Jose Hernandez, 61, a citizen of Honduras, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 41 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release for illegally re-entering the United States after deportation. Flores-Vasquez pleaded guilty to the offense on Oct. 11, 2007. This case was investigated by ICE with the assistance of the Newington Police Department.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, on June 30, 2007, Flores-Vasquez was stopped by a Newington police officer while driving a motor vehicle and subsequently was arrested on state criminal charges, including forgery in the second degree. At the time, Flores-Vasquez identified himself as "Jose Hernandez." However, a check of his fingerprints revealed his true identity to be Mario Fidencio Flores-Vasquez, a resident of Honduras who had been deported from the United States in January 1997. The deportation was based on Flores-Vasquez being convicted of sexual abuse in the first degree, an aggravated felony, in the State of New York.

Flores-Vasquez, who neither sought nor obtained permission to re-enter the United States after his deportation, has admitted that he re-entered the United States in January 2004 by walking around the U.S. Port of Entry at Tijuana, Mexico.

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

Flores-Vasquez will be deported to Honduras after he completes his prison term.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James G. Genco

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

  Last Modified: