Mexican Citizen Illegally Re-Entered U.S. And CT: U.S. Attorney

NORWALK, CT — A 46-year-old citizen of Mexico, who had been residing in Norwalk, pleaded guilty Monday to illegally re-entering the United States after he had been deported, announced U.S. Attorney Deirdre M. Daly.

According to court documents and statements, Alberto Silva-Garcia was deported from the U.S. to his native Mexico in March 1999 "after sustaining a domestic violence conviction in California." Between March 1999 and April 2004, Silva-Garcia "was encountered multiple times in California by immigration agents, twice while in custody following his apprehension and conviction for controlled substance violations, and on several other occasions following his apprehension at the U.S. border for falsely claiming U.S. citizenship."

This constant re-entry did not occur a few times. On 11 documented occasions, Silva-Garcia was returned to Mexico by foot, according to prosecutors.

In August 2009, Silva-Garcia, after he had re-entered the U.S. again, was arrested for motor vehicle offenses in Norwalk, and he was subsequently charged with illegal re-entry in U.S. District Court in Connecticut and was sentenced to 12 months in prison.

Before completing that term, in December 2010, Silva-Garcia was again removed to Mexico.

He then illegally re-entered the U.S. again, in March 2015, was charged with larceny and burglary offenses in superior court in Norwalk. Those charges stemmed from a crime spree involving the theft of construction tools and equipment from job sites and parked construction vehicles. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years in prison.

Silva-Garcia has been detained in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody since October 2016, and he is scheduled to be sentenced on April 25, 2017. He faces a maximum term of 10 years in prison.

The case has been investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and ICE, and it is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deborah R. Slater.

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