NEW HAVEN, Conn. — A Guatemalan national with at least six aliases has been indicted by a federal grand jury in New Haven for allegedly reentering the United States illegally after being deported in 2005.
A release from the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut accuses Rafael Vincente, 40, of committing the offense, as well as several others that are pending in state court.
The indictment for illegal reentry was returned on Tuesday, and Vicente was arrested on Thursday.
Vincente also goes by the names of “Rafael Vicente Vicente,” “Carlos Vincente,” “Vincente Carlos Vincente,” “Carlos Vicente,” and “Rafael A. Vincente.” Prosecutors said he last lived in New London after reentering the country unlawfully.
According to prosecutors, Vicente appeared before a judge in New Haven and pleaded not guilty to the charge of illegal reentry. He was then detained.
The indictment and statements made in court revealed that Vincente was deported from the U.S. to Guatemala in July 2005 after he was convicted in Connecticut Superior Court for negligent homicide and evading responsibility for a motor vehicle accident resulting in death.
Sometime in the past 19 years, Vicente returned to the U.S.
On June 7, Groton Town Police arrested Vincente and charged him with attempted commercial sexual abuse of a minor, attempted sexual assault in the second degree and attempted risk of injury to a minor.
Vicente faces a maximum prison term of 10 years for illegal reentry if he is convicted. The state charges against Vicente are pending.
The U.S. Attorney emphasized that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. She said charges are only allegations and that a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement is investigating the illegal reentry case, according to prosecutors.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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