Former Norwalk Resident Sentenced For Illegal Re-Entry: Feds

NORWALK, CT – A citizen of Guatemala last residing in Norwalk was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for allegedly illegally reentering the U.S. after being deported, U.S. Attorney for District of Connecticut John H. Durham announced in a news release Monday.

According to court documents, Miguel Angel Arcos-Vasquez, also known as "Dimas Fernando Herrarte," 27, attempted to enter the U.S. at the Mexican border in November 2011 using the identity of a Mexican citizen. He was denied entry into the U.S. and returned by foot to Mexico, Durham said.

In March 2014, the accused was arrested by the Stratford Police Department for a burglary offense. In April 2014, he also was charged with failure to appear. He was not encountered by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at this time, Durham said.

According to Durham, the accused returned to Guatemala voluntarily in approximately 2015. In January 2016, he attempted to enter the U.S. three times through Texas, but was removed to Mexico after each attempt, Durham said.

On Jan. 24, 2017, the accused was arrested by the Stamford Police Department on charges of threatening in the first degree. Three days later, under the name of Dimas Herrarte-Ramirez, he was charged by the Norwalk Police Department with sale of a hallucinogen/narcotic and criminal possession of a firearm, Durham said.

Durham said the accused has been detained since that time, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was notified.

On Oct. 19, 2017, the accused was sentenced in state court to five years of incarceration, execution suspended after two years. His state prison term is scheduled to expire in January 2019.

The accused was ordered to begin serving his federal sentence upon his release from state prison. On August 17, he pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally reentering the U.S. after being deported, Durham said.

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