HARRISBURG, PA — Abel Rodriguez-Moreno, a 43-year-old native of Chiapas, Mexico, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Wednesday on allegations of illegal reentry into the United States, according to an announcement from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
The indictment, as detailed by U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam, alleges that Rodriguez-Moreno was previously deported from the United States on June 27, 2012, through Calexico, California. It is further alleged that he was subsequently discovered in the United States without having first secured legal permission for reentry. The indictment also maintains that Rodriguez-Moreno was encountered in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, on October 29, 2023.
The case was brought to light following an investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in collaboration with the Chambersburg Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark G. Monroe has been assigned to prosecute the case.
If found guilty, Rodriguez-Moreno faces a maximum penalty under federal law of two years imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. However, any sentence following a finding of guilt would be determined by the Judge after considering the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
It is important to note, however, that at this stage, the charges against Rodriguez-Moreno remain allegations. An indictment or criminal information is not a declaration of guilt. A suspect, arrestee, or defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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