ICE: Annandale Man Removed 4 Times Faces Federal Charge After Arrest

ANNANDALE, VA — An Annandale man who authorities say was removed from the United States four times is facing a federal charge after his arrest in Fairfax County on strangulation and domestic assault charges, according to federal and state court records.

Charlie Lazo Fuentes, whose address is listed in state court records as Annandale, was charged in U.S. District Court in Alexandria with illegally reentering the United States after removal, according to a criminal complaint filed Monday.

The federal case stems from Lazo Fuentes' July arrest in Fairfax County. According to an affidavit filed by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation officer, ICE learned around July 7 that Lazo Fuentes was being held at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center on charges of strangulation and assault and battery of a family member.

Virginia court records show Lazo Fuentes was arrested July 5 and charged with strangulation causing a wound or injury, a Class 6 felony. The offense occurred on the same day, according to court records.

ICE Says Man Was Removed Four Times

An ICE records check identified Lazo Fuentes as a native and citizen of Mexico who had previously been removed from the United States four times, according to the federal affidavit.

Those removals occurred April 2, 2012, near Hidalgo, Texas; April 20, 2012, near Calexico, California; June 15, 2016, near Hidalgo; and Sept. 12, 2016, near Hidalgo, according to the affidavit.

Investigators obtained the fingerprint card and booking photograph from Lazo Fuentes' July arrest and checked the fingerprints against ICE records, according to the affidavit. ICE's Homeland Security Investigations Forensic Laboratory later compared a fingerprint from his September 2016 removal paperwork with the fingerprint card taken by Fairfax County Police on July 5.

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The laboratory reported Aug. 12 that the fingerprints matched, according to court documents.

ICE records contained no evidence that Lazo Fuentes had immigration status or another authorization allowing him to legally enter or remain in the United States, the affidavit says. Investigators also found no evidence that he had obtained permission from the attorney general or Department of Homeland Security secretary to reenter after his removal.

Based on that investigation, the ICE officer said there was probable cause to believe Lazo Fuentes was found in Fairfax County after having previously been removed from the country and without receiving permission to reapply for admission.

Fairfax Charges Remain Pending

The state cases that led to ICE learning of Lazo Fuentes' presence remain pending in Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.

In addition to the felony strangulation charge, Lazo Fuentes faces a Class 1 misdemeanor charge of assault and battery against a family member stemming from the same July 5 incident.

Court records list his status as "bail" in both cases. A preliminary hearing on the felony strangulation charge is scheduled for Oct. 20 at 1:30 p.m. An adjudicatory hearing on the misdemeanor domestic assault charge is scheduled for the same date and time.

The charges are allegations. Lazo Fuentes has not been convicted of the federal or Virginia charges described in the court records.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call or text 911.

For confidential support in Fairfax County:

• Domestic and Sexual Violence 24-Hour Hotline: 703-360-7273
• Inova Forensic Assessment and Consultation Team: 855-694-6682
• Virginia Family Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-838-8238

• To request a training or speaker with our division: Outreach and Education Services | Family Services
• Fairfax County's Domestic and Sexual Violence Services podcast: Unscripted: Conversations about Sexual and Domestic Violence Podcast