Ernesto Ivan Lazo-Rodriguez, Deportation Fraud, Pittsburgh PA, 2023

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The grimy details of a federal plea deal spill across the court dockets as Ernesto Ivan Lazo-Rodriguez, alias Daniel Mancero, 35, from El Salvador, admits guilt for immigration violations under the heavy gaze of United States Attorney David J. Hickton.

Lazo-Rodriguez’s tale takes a twist in American justice as he pleads guilty to three counts before Judge Mark R. Hornak. The man who was admitted to the U.S. as a permanent resident on December 2, 1993, under the alias of Daniel Mancero, has now been caught in a web of deceit.

The story unravels with Lazo-Rodriguez’s arrest and conviction for aggravated robbery and robbery by Texas authorities. In 2000, he was removed from the U.S. by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), yet managed to return under his permanent resident card. His journey continued as he applied for naturalization – but his lie about being previously arrested and deported came back to haunt him.

On July 18, 2012, Lazo-Rodriguez’s facade crumbled as he faced his charges during the naturalization interview. Sentencing is set for September 12, 2013, with a maximum of 30 years in prison, a fine of $750,000, or both on the line.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Shardul S. Desai will handle the prosecution, while ICE’s diligent investigation led to this day in court. The justice system awaits Lazo-Rodriguez’s fate, a stark reminder of the consequences of immigration fraud.