News Release [print-friendly version]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 19, 2007

Colombian Nat'l Charged With Illegal Re-Entry, False Statement

SEP 19 -- (HARTFORD) - June W. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England and Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford has returned an Indictment charging CARLOS ESTUPINAN-PRADO, 47, of Freeman Street, Hartford, with illegally re-entering the United States after having been deported, and with making false statements about his identity and his nationality.

The Indictment alleges that, on May 23, 2007, ESTUPINAN-PRADO, after having been deported, was found in the United States. The Indictment further alleges that, on that date, after ESTUPINAN-PRADO had been arrested on drug distribution charges by agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, he falsely told the agents that his name was Francisco T. Colon and that he had been born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. ESTUPINAN-PRADO was born in Colombia.

Before re-entering the United States, anyone who has been deported must have the express consent of the U.S. Attorney General or his successor, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
If convicted of the illegal re-entry charge, ESTUPINAN-PRADO faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000. If convicted of the false statement charge, ESTUPINAN-PRADO faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years and a fine of up to $250,000.

U.S. Attorney O’Connor stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial at which it is the Government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

This Indictment is the result of the cooperative investigative efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”).