Greenbelt, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte sentenced Rafael Majano-Maldonado, age 28, a Honduran national residing in Hyattsville, Maryland, late yesterday to 18 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release for illegal re-entry of a deported alien, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. Majano-Maldonado will be deported after serving his 18 month sentence in federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein said, “As is true of many violent gang members, Rafael Majano-Maldonado returned to the United States although he was arrested multiple times by state authorities and deported by federal immigration authorities. Criminal prosecutions and imprisonment are essential to deter dangerous aliens from returning to the United States.”

According to the agreed upon statement of facts, Majano-Maldonado was born in Honduras. He illegally entered the United States in 1999, was found by immigration authorities and was released from custody on bond in July 1999. In September 1999, Majano-Maldonado breached his bond and was ordered removed, in absentia.

In March 2006, Montgomery County police arrested Majano-Maldonado, who admitted his Honduran citizenship, his illegal status in the United States and his membership in La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13. He has “MS” and “13" tattooed across his hands. ICE again ordered him removed and warned him that he was prohibited from returning to the United States for 10 years. He was deported in May 2006. Less than a year later, in July 2007, Majano-Maldonado was again arrested at his residence in Hyattsville.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked the Bureau of Immigration, Customs and Enforcement and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their investigative work, and commended Assistant United States Attorney Stacy Dawson Belf, who prosecuted the case.