Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that MARLON AMAYA-LOPEZ, also known as Elder Figueroa, 35, a citizen of Honduras last residing in Bridgeport, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to one count of illegally reentering the U.S. after being deported.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Amaya-Lopez was previously deported and removed from the U.S. to Honduras following a felony conviction in April 2007 in Connecticut Superior Court for attempted robbery in the second degree. He reentered the U.S. and returned to Connecticut without obtaining the consent of the Attorney General of the United States or his successor, the Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, to reapply for admission into the U.S.
Judge Arterton scheduled sentencing for March 28, 2023, at which time Amaya-Lopez faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. The penalties in this matter are enhanced based on his prior conviction.
Amaya-Lopez has been detained since his arrest on November 30, 2022.
This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Neeraj N. Patel, Anastasia E. King and Stephanie T. Levick.