Previously deported illegal alien indicted for firearms violations

BEAUMONT, Texas - A previously deported Honduran national has been indicted for federal firearms violations following a joint investigation by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Carlos Andres Suazo-Izaguirre, 40, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Mar. 17 and charged with illegally re-entering the United States, being a felon in possession of a firearm, being an alien in possession of a firearm, and possessing a stolen firearm. If convicted, Suazo-Izaguirre faces up to 20 years in federal prison for illegally re-entering the United States and up to 10 years for each of the firearms violations.

The indictment alleges that on Dec. 13, 2010, a Dayton, Texas homeowner discovered Suazo-Izaguirre in the garage of her home with a firearm he had stolen from the garage. The homeowner held the defendant at gun point until law enforcement authorities arrived. After the defendant was arrested, it was discovered that he was a native of Honduras and had been previously deported five times.

Further investigation revealed Suazo-Izaguirre was a convicted felon having been found guilty of possessing a controlled substance in 1992 in Montgomery County, Texas; unauthorized use of a motor vehicle in 1997 in Montgomery County; forgery in 1998 in Harris County, Texas; possession of a controlled substance in 2002 in Montgomery County; and re-entry of a deported alien in 2004 and in 2007 in the Southern District of Texas. It is a violation of federal law for a convicted felon or an illegal alien to possess or own firearms or ammunition.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonetta Stancu of the Eastern District of Texas.

A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.