Mexican national sentenced for illegally reentering US after deportation

HARTFORD, Conn. — A Mexican national was sentenced Monday to 30 months in federal prison for illegally reentering the United States after being deported. The sentence is the result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Marcos Martinez-Gutierrez, 43, a citizen of Mexico last residing in Norwalk, was identified by ICE's Secure Communities program after being arrested by Norwalk police. Once removability was established ERO officers lodged a detainer March 2, 2013.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Martinez-Gutierrez has never held legal status in the U.S., and has been removed to his native Mexico on three separate occasions, most recently in June 2011.

While living unlawfully in the country since at least 1990, Martinez-Gutierrez has amassed a criminal history that includes four convictions for driving while intoxicated, three convictions for possession of narcotics, two convictions for assault against his then-girlfriend, one conviction for patronizing a prostitute, one conviction for criminal impersonation and two convictions for illegal entry.

Martinez-Gutierrez has been in custody since March 3, 2013.  In July 2013, he was sentenced in Connecticut state court to three years of incarceration for possession of narcotics and criminal impersonation.

On April 14, 2014, Martinez-Gutierrez pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of illegal reentry of a removed alien.  U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson ordered Martinez-Gutierrez to serve his 30-month federal sentence after he is released from state custody.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Krishna R. Patel and Carolyn A. Ikari.