Dominican Republic Native Charged With Illegal Reentry

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jose Rafael Polo-Sanchez, age 43, of the Dominican Republic, was indicted by a federal grand jury for illegal reentry into the United States by a previously deported alien.

According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that Jose Rafael Polo-Sanchez was previously removed from the United States on December 3, 2019, through Alexandria, Louisiana. It is alleged that he was subsequently found in the United States on October 31, 2024, in Clinton County, Pennsylvania, without having first obtained legal permission to reenter the country.

This matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Assistant United States Attorney Tatum Wilson is prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is ten years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

# # #