Mexican National Who Has Been Removed from the U.S. 5 Times Charged with Illegal Reentry
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that, on August 13, 2019, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging ARMANDO MACHORRO-ROJAS, 42, a citizen of Mexico last residing in Norwalk, with one count of illegally reentering the U.S. after being deported.
Machorro-Rojas appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge William I. Garfinkel in Bridgeport and entered a plea of not guilty to the charge.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, on two occasions in March 2007, Machorro-Rojas had encounters with U.S. Border Patrol that resulted in his voluntary to Mexico. On March 23, 2012, Machorro Rojas was arrested by Norwalk Police and charged with operating a vehicle without a license. On April 26, 2012, he was deported from the U.S. to Mexico.
It is further alleged that, on March 29, 2015, Machorro-Rojas was encountered by U.S. Border Patrol near Bisbee, Arizona. On April 15, 2015, he was again removed to Mexico.
It is further alleged that, on June 6, 2015, Machorro-Rojas was encountered by U.S. Border Patrol near Santa Teresa, New Mexico. He was subsequently charged in the District of New Mexico with one count of reentry of a removed alien. He pleaded guilty to the offense, was sentenced to time served and, on July 10, 2015, was removed to Mexico.
Machorro-Rojas has been detained since August 9, 2019, after he was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.
If convicted of the charge of illegal reentry, Machorro-Rojas faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
U.S. Attorney Durham 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 the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deborah R. Slater.