⏱ 2 min read
Jony Galeano Lopez-Garcia, a 27-year-old Guatemalan national, has admitted to unlawfully reentering the US in Connecticut, despite being deported twice before. Lopez-Garcia, who was living in Hartford, pleaded guilty to the crime before US District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport. The incident occurred after Lopez-Garcia was initially deported in December 2017 and again in February 2018, with warnings not to return to the US for 5 and 20 years, respectively.
Lopez-Garcia’s troubles began in November 2017 when he was encountered by US Border Patrol in Arizona. He was subsequently convicted of illegally entering the US in the Southern District of Texas and deported. However, he reentered the US in January 2018, only to be deported again. His most recent arrest occurred on November 27, 2025, when Hartford Police charged him with assault and other offenses under the name Yoni Lopez Garcia.
Lopez-Garcia’s case was investigated by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations, and is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Neeraj N. Patel. The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative aimed at combating illegal reentry.
Lopez-Garcia faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two years for his crime. His sentencing date has not been scheduled. The guilty plea marks a significant development in the case, which highlights the ongoing issue of unlawful reentry in the US.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Violent Crime
- Defendant: Connecticut
- Location: CT
- Source: DOJ Press Release
