Dominican Man Living in New Bedford Indicted for Illegal Re-Entry

BOSTON — A Dominican national residing in New Bedford has been indicted in federal court in Boston for illegally reentering the United States.

U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling says 44-year-old Manuel Mendez Pimentel, a Dominican national formerly residing in New Bedford, was indicted on one count of unlawfully reentering the United States after being deported.

According to the indictment, Mendez Pimentel was removed in 2009 and subsequently reentered the United States without permission. The indictment further alleges that Mendez Pimentel was deported after being convicted of an aggravated felony.

Mendez Pimentel faces a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. He will also be subject to deportation proceedings. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Marcos D. Charles, Acting Field Office Director, Enforcement and Removal Operations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Boston, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam W. Deitch of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.