The Department of Justice announced on Tuesday night that it filed felony immigration charges against the twice-deported criminal alien charged in the deaths of Indianapolis Colts Linebacker Edwin Jackson and his Uber driver, Jeffrey Monroe. The charge could land the illegal immigrant in federal prison for up to 20 years.
United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana Josh Minkler announced late Tuesday night that his office filed a criminal complaint against 37-year-old Manuel Orrego-Zavala for aggravated illegal re-entry of a previously deported felon, according to a statement provided by the Department of Justice to Breitbart Texas.
“The defendant in this case allegedly re-entered the country illegally for the second time before he put the public safety of Indianapolis at risk and took the lives of two innocent men early Sunday morning,” US Attorney Minkler said in the written statement. “In April, Attorney General Sessions directed all federal prosecutor to prioritize charging aliens that illegally re-enter the country, especially if they are a risk to public safety or there is a criminal history present. Following the rule of law is the foundation of our American democracy, and my office is committed to fulfilling the Attorney General’s directive.”
In a copy of the criminal complaint (attached below), the DOJ states that Indiana State Police arrested Orrego-Zavala following a fatal vehicle crash in Interstate 70 near Indianapolis. The suspect fled the scene of the crash and police located him a short time later. He initially provided false information about his identity, claiming to be a Mexican national named Alex G. Cabrera.
“Homeland Security agents soon learned—through cooperation and information sharing with the Indianapolis Metro Police Department—his true identity was Manuel Orrego-Zavala, a citizen of Guatemala,” the complaint states.
Immigration officers in San Francisco arrested Orrego-Zavala on October 27, 2006. The agents processed the Guatemalan national for removal and on January 17, 2007, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers from ICE returned Orrego-Zavala to his home country. At that time, officials served him with notice that he could not enter, attempt to enter, or be present in the United States for a period of 10 years.
Despite that warning, ICE-ERO officers again arrested Orrego-Zavala in San Francisco on March 26, 2009. ERO officers transported the criminal alien to Phoenix where they transported him to Guatemala on May 12, 2009. At this time, ERO officers served him with a warning that he is prohibited from re-entering, attempting to re-enter or be physically present in the United States for a period of 20 years.
HSI agents obtained fingerprints on the suspected drunk driver following his February 4 arrest in Indianapolis. The agents determined the migrant’s true identity.
Orrega-Zavala is facing state charges of driving under the influence resulting in death. For each count, he could face up to six years in state prison.
The federal charges of aggravated re-entry after removal bring a possible sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison.
Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas. He is a founding member of the Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX, Gab, and Facebook.
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