Ecuador Citizen Tepan Sentenced for Illegal Reentry After Deportation

RODOLFO BOLIVAR TEPAN, 38, a citizen of Ecuador last residing in Danbury, Connecticut, is behind bars again—this time for sneaking back into the U.S. after being deported following a conviction for risking injury to a minor. Sentenced today to 19 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford, Tepan’s criminal spiral shows no signs of stopping.

The first strike came in February 2016, when Tepan was handed a 10-year suspended sentence and five years of probation in Danbury Superior Court for risk of injury to a minor, a charge rooted in Connecticut’s strict child protection statutes. That conviction wasn’t just a legal setback—it triggered federal immigration consequences. In October 2016, U.S. authorities deported him to Ecuador, cutting off his legal foothold in the country.

But Tepan didn’t stay gone. He illegally reentered the United States, violating federal law the moment he crossed the border. On May 12, 2017, Danbury Police caught him—again—for failing to register as a sex offender, a non-negotiable requirement under both state and federal law for individuals with his conviction history.

Convicted on the state charge, Tepan was sentenced on July 28, 2017, to 18 months in state prison. That sentence is now being served at the same time as his federal term. Judge Shea ordered the 19-month federal sentence for reentry of a removed alien to run concurrently, avoiding a longer stretch behind bars—but sending a clear message: reentry after deportation carries a steep price.

TEPAN has been in custody since his May 2017 arrest, meaning he hasn’t been free since his return. On November 29, 2017, he pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of reentry of a removed alien, a felony under U.S. immigration law that targets those who return after formal removal, particularly those with criminal records.

The investigation was led by U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Deborah R. Slater prosecuted the case, ensuring federal accountability for Tepan’s illegal return. His case underscores the federal crackdown on deported individuals with violent or sexual criminal histories who attempt to slip back into American communities.