NEW HAVEN, Conn. — A federal grand jury has indicted a 40-year-old Guatemalan citizen, Rafael Vincente Vincente, for illegally reentering the United States after being deported, U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery announced Monday. Vincente, who has a history of serious criminal convictions, was arrested and detained following his court appearance.
According to the indictment and court statements, Vincente was deported to Guatemala in July 2005 after being convicted in Connecticut Superior Court of negligent homicide and evading responsibility for a motor vehicle accident that resulted in death. Despite his deportation, Vincente unlawfully reentered the U.S. and was living in New London, Connecticut.
On June 7, 2024, Groton Town Police arrested Vincente on state charges that include attempted commercial sexual abuse of a minor, attempted sexual assault in the second degree, and attempted risk of injury to a child. Those state charges are currently pending.
Vincente was indicted on November 19 and arrested on Monday. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven, where he entered a plea of not guilty to the illegal reentry charge and was ordered detained. If convicted, Vincente faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
The case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Gordon is prosecuting the matter.