Citizen of Dominican Republic sentenced to 25 months for illegally reentering the US after deportation

HARTFORD, Conn. - A man from the Dominican Republic was sentenced Wednesday to 25 months in prison for illegally reentering the United States after deportation. This sentenced was announced by David B. Fein, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Marino Avalo, 47, also known as "Jose Ventura" and "Carlos Irizarry," a citizen of the Dominican Republic, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Avalo was deported to the Dominican Republic in January 1993 and again in March 1995, both times after having been convicted of an aggravated felony involving the distribution of cocaine. Avalo again illegally reentered the United States and was found in Connecticut on June 16, 2010, after he was arrested for using someone else's name to apply for a driver's license.

Avalo has been in custody since June 16, 2010.

On Oct. 5, 2010, Avalo pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful presence in the United States following deportation.

Avalo again faces deportation after he completes the sentence imposed today.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert M. Spector and Jonathan S. Freimann.