A federal grand jury on Thursday returned separate indictments against Ezequiel Rivera Gomez, also known as Francisco Mejia, 44, and Luis Miguel Recio Fernandez, 29, both Dominican Republic nationals, alleging that they illegally reentered the United States after having been previously deported.
U.S. Attorney Gretchen Shappert announced the indictments and said both men remain in federal custody pending their individual trials.
The indictment against Gomez alleges that he was previously removed from the United States on or about March 1, 2016, after having been convicted of a drug trafficking offense. The indictment against Fernandez alleges that on or about July 20, 2012, he too was previously removed from the United States after committed a drug trafficking offense.
Under federal law, both men face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
These cases are being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Everard E. Potter.
