March 30, 2007

Man sentenced to prison for illegally re-entering the U.S. after twice being deported to Mexico

NEW HAVEN, CONN. - Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that Oscar Corona-Cortesano, age 32, a Mexican citizen formerly residing in California, was sentenced yesterday, March 29, by United States District Judge Mark R. Kravitz in New Haven, to 15 months of imprisonment for re-entering the United States after twice being deported to Mexico in 1999 and 2002.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, Corona-Cortesano was first deported from the United States in 1999 after being convicted in California of the sale or transportation of a quantity of heroin. Sometime thereafter, Corona-Cortesano illegally returned to the United States.

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.

In 2001, Corona-Cortesano again was found in California and, after serving a 60-day period of incarceration for a probation violation, he was deported to Mexico on January 16, 2002.

On January 24, 2006, Corona-Cortesano again was found in the United States when Stamford Police arrested him on charges of First Degree Larceny and Second Degree Forgery. Immigration officials were notified that Corona-Cortesano was in custody, and these state charges remain pending at this time. On March 1, 2006, the Department of Homeland Security reinstated its previous deportation order against Corona-Cortesano. Upon completing all periods of incarceration, Corona-Cortesano again will be deported to Mexico.

The case was investigated by Deportation Officers of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Department of Homeland Security. Assistant United States Attorneys William M. Brown, Jr. and Krishna R. Patel prosecuted the case.

-- 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.

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