Sex Offender Living In Willimantic Sentenced To Prison For Illegally Reentering U.S. After Deportation

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE DE LA CRUZ AJQUI, 27, a citizen of Guatemala last residing in Willimantic, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 12 months of imprisonment for illegally reentering the U.S. after he was deported.

According to court documents and statements made in court, DE LA CRUZ AJQUI entered the U.S. illegally in 2005 and settled in Willimantic.  In September 2007, he was charged and subsequently convicted in Connecticut state court of sexual assault of a minor in the second degree.  DE LA CRUZ AJQUI received a sentence of five years of incarceration execution, suspended after nine months, and 10 years of probation.  He was also required to register as a sex offender for a period of 10 years.

DE LA CRUZ AJQUI was deported to Guatemala in May 2009.  By his own admission, he illegally reentered the U.S. less than two months later and returned to Willimantic. 

On October 7, 2011, DE LA CRUZ AJQUI was arrested by the Connecticut State Police in Woodstock for evading responsibility, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, and illegally operating a motor vehicle.  He also was found in possession of marijuana.  However, DE LA CRUZ AJQUI provided a false identity at the time of this arrest.  His illegal presence in the country was not detected in until May 7, 2013, when he was arrested by the Willimantic Police Department for failing to appear on the charges and his true identity was determined.  On December 6, 2013, he was sentenced in state court to five years of incarceration, execution suspended after one year, with 10 years of probation for violating his probation.

On March 25, 2014, DE LA CRUZ AJQUI pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of illegal reentry of a removed alien.

This matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deborah R. Slater.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov