COLUMBUS, OH – A Fayette County man has been arrested and charged with illegally reentering the United States after being previously convicted of an aggravated felony, federal authorities announced today.
Pedro Marquez, 34, of Bloomingburg, Ohio, was taken into custody by federal agents following an investigation into his illegal return to the country.
According to court records, Marquez, a native of Mexico, was first deported in 2009. In 2011, he was convicted of participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, where he conspired to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Prosecutors say Marquez transported, delivered, and distributed the drugs as part of the operation.
Following his conviction, Marquez served time in federal prison before being deported again in 2016. However, officials say he unlawfully reentered the U.S., leading to his arrest this week.
Under federal law, illegally reentering the United States after being convicted of an aggravated felony carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, followed by deportation.
The arrest was announced by Kenneth L. Parker, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Angie M. Salazar, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit. Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Twombly is handling the prosecution.
Authorities remind the public that a criminal complaint only contains allegations, and Marquez is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
