Five Deported Men Indicted on Illegal Re-Entry Charges in PA

HARRISBURG — Five men previously deported from the United States were indicted on federal illegal re-entry charges after being caught back in Pennsylvania without authorization. Each defendant, all from Mexico, allegedly sneaked across the border after formal removal, dodging immigration inspection, and resurfacing in central Pennsylvania counties under the radar of federal authorities.

Jose Martinez-Rojas, 36, was deported to Mexico in April 2007 and is accused of re-entering the U.S. after that date. He was found in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, having eluded examination by immigration officers. Jorge Cervantes-Gomez, 31, also from Mexico, was deported in February 2005 and allegedly re-entered the U.S. afterward, later found in the same county under identical circumstances. Both face a maximum penalty of two years in prison, supervised release, and a fine.

Francisco Cervantes-Guizar, 38, was deported in October 2006 and allegedly returned illegally, later found in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. His prior conviction in 2006 for making a false statement on a U.S. passport application in the Middle District of Pennsylvania triggers enhanced penalties, exposing him to up to ten years in prison, supervised release, and a fine.

Luis Alberto Silva-Saldana, 24, was deported in July 2014 and allegedly re-entered afterward, discovered in Dauphin County. His prior conviction in Berks County Court of Common Pleas for fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer elevates his exposure to ten years behind bars, plus supervised release and a fine. Abel Salazar-Diaz, 40, deported in August 2010, was found in York County after re-entry and previously convicted in the Southern District of Texas for illegal re-entry in 2010—now drawing a maximum of ten years in federal prison, supervised release, and a fine.

The cases were investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian G. McDonnell is prosecuting. Each defendant was charged via separate indictment returned on February 1, 2017, by a federal grand jury in Harrisburg.

Indictments are not convictions. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. Sentencing, if convicted, will be determined by a federal judge weighing statutory guidelines, the nature of the offense, criminal history, and factors like public safety and rehabilitation needs. The statutory maximum penalty is not a predictor of actual sentence imposed.

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