Indianapolis, Indiana – A senseless tragedy unfolded on Interstate 70 in Indianapolis, Indiana, early Sunday morning, leaving two innocent men dead and a community in shock. Manuel Orrego-Zavala, a 37-year-old illegal alien from Guatemala, is now facing federal charges for allegedly re-entering the United States after being previously deported twice.
According to the criminal complaint, Orrego-Zavala was involved in a fatal motor vehicle accident on Interstate 70 on February 4, 2018. At the time of his arrest, he provided law enforcement authorities with the alias, “Alex G. Cabrera,” but Homeland Security agents soon learned his true identity was Manuel Orrego-Zavala, a citizen of Guatemala.
The complaint further states that Orrego-Zavala was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO) in October 2006, and removed from the United States to Guatemala in January 2007. At that time, he was prohibited from returning to the United States for 10 years. In March 2009, he was arrested by ICE ERO and in May 2009, removed to Guatemala and prohibited from returning for 20 years.
The charges against Orrego-Zavala come after a directive from Attorney General Sessions in April, which directed all federal prosecutors to prioritize charging aliens that illegally re-enter the country, especially if they are a risk to public safety or have a criminal history present.
“The defendant in this case allegedly re-entered the country illegally for the second time before he put the public safety of Indianapolis at risk and took the lives of two innocent men early Sunday morning,” said U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler.
Orrego-Zavala will remain in custody while the case is investigated by the Indiana State Police and the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office. The immigration charges will remain pending until the conclusion of all state matters.
A criminal complaint is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven otherwise in federal court.
According to Assistant United States Attorney William McCoskey, who is prosecuting this case for the government, Orrego-Zavala faces up to 10 years of imprisonment if convicted.
Key Facts
- State: Indiana
- Category: Public Corruption|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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