United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

HONDURAN NATIONAL FOUND IN NORWALK SENTENCED TO 41 MONTHS FOR ILLEGALLY RE-ENTERING THE U.S.

Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JASSER FARITH MAHID-ORDONEZ, also known as JASSER MASRI, age 25, was sentenced on Friday, May 11, by United States District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport, to 41 months of imprisonment for re-entering the United States after being deported to Honduras in January 2003. MAHID-ORDONEZ pleaded guilty to the offense on February 22, 2007.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, MAHID-ORDONEZ, a native and citizen of Honduras, was first found in the United States on April 24, 2000, when he was arrested for assault in the third degree. On May 5, 2000, MAHID-ORDONEZ was arrested for assault in the second degree. On August 8, 2000, MAHID-ORDONEZ was convicted for assault in the third degree, and was sentenced to one year, one year suspended, and three years of probation; and for assault in the second degree, for which he was sentenced to five years, execution suspended, with five years of probation. On October 16, 2002, an Immigration Judge ordered MAHID-ORDONEZ removed as an aggravated felon and a non-immigrant overstay, and he was subsequently deported to Honduras on January 9, 2003.

MAHID-ORDONEZ illegally re-entered the United States. According to MAHID-ORDONEZ, he crossed into Guatemala from Honduras, and then into Mexico. He then re-entered the United States in June 2004 by driving a car that he had purchased in Mexico through the port of entry at Laredo, Texas.

On March 30, 2006, MAHID-ORDONEZ was located and interviewed in Norwalk, Connecticut. He indicated that he was from Honduras and had been deported from the United States in 2003.

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.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) with the assistance of the Westport and Norwalk Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Krishna R. Patel.

CONTACT:

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