Six men arrested around north Alabama indicted by federal grand jury for being illegally in the U.S.

By Kent Faulk
on December 27, 2012 at 4:41 PM, updated December 27, 2012 at 4:49 PM
al.com

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Six foreign nationals have been indicted by a federal grand jury for being in the United States illegally after having previously been deported, U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance announced today.

Arturo Fernando Arizpe-Torres, Salvador Mendoza-Chavez, Francisco Gallegos-Trujillo, 20, Gerardo Arturo Arguello-Canela, 43, and Roberto Vargas, 38, all of Mexico; and Manuel Rodriguez-Bejar, 30, of Guatemala, where charged in separate indictments for illegal re-entry into the U.S. after previous deportation, according to a statement from Vance. Dates of birth were unavailable for Arizpe-Torres and Mendoza-Chavez.

The men had been picked up by law enforcement around north Alabama, according to Vance's statement.

Arizpe-Torres was found in Limestone County on Nov. 14 after having been deported to Mexico in November 2010 from Hidalgo, Texas.

Mendoz-Chavez was found in Bibb County on Nov. 19 after having been deported to Mexico in June 1997 from Calexico, Calif., and in March 2006 from Nogales, Ariz.

Gallegos-Trujillo was found in Shelby County on Nov. 27 after having been deported to Mexico in September 2011 from Brownsville, Texas, and from Douglas, Ariz., in October 2011.

Arguello-Canela, also known as Gerardo Arturo Arguello, Gerardo Arturo Arguello-Ganela, Juan Ortiz, and "Gordo," was found in Jackson County on Dec. 1 after having been deported to Mexico in November 2011 from Brownsville. He was deported following his Sept. 28, 2011, felony conviction in Jackson County Circuit Court for possession of a controlled substance.

Vargas, also known as Roberto Vargas Hernandez, Alberto Hernandez and Roberto H. Vargas, was found in Blount County Dec. 6 after having been deported to Mexico in June 2002 from Brownsville.

Rodriguez-Bejar, also known as Thomas Jose Ramirez, Tomas Miguel, Manuel Bejar, Manuel Rodriges, Tomas Miguel Sanchez, Tomas Jose Chavez, Hernesto Gonzalez Hernandez, Tomas Francisco and Miguel Pedro-Tomas, was found in Etowah County Sept. 2 after having been deported to Guatemala in October 2004 from Phoeniz, Ariz.,and from New Orleans in January 2009.

The maximum penalty for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien is two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The prison sentence may be enhanced to a 20-year maximum for illegal re-entry of an alien who was previously deported following conviction of an aggravated felony.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations investigated these cases being prosecuted the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Six men arrested around north Alabama indicted by federal grand jury for being illegally in the U.S. | al.com