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January 26, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Two Indicted For Illegally Reentering the United States

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA — Two individuals were named in separate Indictments returned by a Federal Grand Jury sitting in Martinsburg, West Virginia, on January 20, 2010.

Acting United States Attorney Betsy C. Jividen announced that:

EDGAR NAVARRATTE HERNANDEZ, also known as PEDRO HERNANDEZ, also known as ALEX REBA, age 33, was named in a one-count Indictment. The Indictment alleges that HERNANDEZ, an alien, having been previously removed from the United States on April 1, 2009, near San Antonio, Texas, reentered the United States without express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission and was found in Berkeley County, West Virginia, on November 17, 2009.

ALBERT LEON MENDEZ, age 32, was named in a one-count Indictment. The Indictment alleges that MENDEZ, an alien, having been previously removed from the United States on January 8, 2009, near Calexico, California, and again on February 10, 2009, near Calexico, reentered the United States without express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission and was found in Berkeley County on December 28, 2009.

If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.

The cases will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin K. Reisenweber. The cases were investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

It should be noted that the charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations and not evidence of guilt, and that each defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.