Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury in Bridgeport has returned an indictment charging LUIS SALTO SAICO, 47, a citizen of Ecuador last residing in Danbury, with one count of illegally reentering the U.S. after being deported.
The indictment was returned on October 5, and Saico appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Dave Vatti in Bridgeport and entered a plea of not guilty to the charge. Saico has been detained since his arrest on a federal criminal complaint on September 26, 2022.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, on January 26, 2006, Saico was arrested in Columbus, Ohio, for aggravated vehicular assault. He subsequently pleaded guilty in Ohio state court to that charge and to one count of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. After serving approximately eight months of imprisonment, he was removed to Ecuador in July 2008. In July 2022, ICE learned that Saico was residing in Danbury after he was arrested by Danbury Police and charged with sexual assault in the third degree and disorderly conduct.
If convicted of the charge of illegal reentry, Saico faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial at which it is the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings.