HARRISBURG –The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that five previously deported aliens were indicted separately yesterday by a federal grand jury for illegal reentry into the United States. These matters arose in counties throughout the district including Dauphin, York, Huntingdon, and Northumberland Counties.
According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Casano De Jesus Espinoza-Vargas, age 59, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in September 2010. He is alleged to have illegally reentered the United States again sometime after September 2010. On February 8, 2022, he was found in the United States in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, after being involved in a vehicle accident and charged with driving under the influence.
Melesio Medina-Torres, age 44, was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in October 2008. He is alleged to have illegally reentered the United States again sometime after October 2008. He was found in the United States in York County, Pennsylvania, after an arrest for simple assault and harassment.
Deyby Mizael Aguilar-Avila, age 30, was previously deported from the United States to Honduras in October 2018. He is alleged to have illegally reentered the United States again sometime after October 2018. He was found in the United States in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, when arrested for another offense that is currently pending in the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas.
Jose Navarrete-Bonilla a/k/a George Torres, age 35, was previously deported from the United States to Honduras in April 2012. He is alleged to have illegally reentered the United States again sometime after April 2012. He was found in the United States in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, after an arrest by a Sunbury police officer, on charges which eventually led to a conviction for simple assault.
Espinoza-Vargas, Medina-Torres, Aguilar-Avila, and Navarrete-Bonilla face a maximum penalty of 2 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.
Fernando Contreras, age 19, a citizen of Mexico, was illegally in the country and was in possession of a firearm when encountered in Dauphin County on September 3, 2021, after a vehicle stop performed by local law enforcement.
Contreras faces a maximum penalty of 10 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.
This matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joanne M. Sanderson.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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