Guatemalan National with Negligent Homicide Conviction Admits Illegally Reentering U.S., Attempting to Engage in Sex with Minor

David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RAFAEL VINCENTE VINCENTE, also known as "Rafael Vicente Vicente," "Vincente Carlos Vincente," "Carlos Vincente," "Carlos Vicente," "Rafael A Vincente," and "Rafael A Vicente," 41, a citizen of Guatemala last residing in New London, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to illegally reentering the United States after being deported. In pleading guilty, he also admitted that he attempted to entice, patronize, or solicit a minor in violation of federal law.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in October 2004, Vincente, who has never held legal immigration status in the U.S., was convicted in Connecticut Superior Court of negligent homicide and evading responsibility for a motor vehicle accident resulting in death, and was sentenced to a 10-year term of incarceration, suspended after 13 months. In July 2005, he was deported to Guatemala.

Vincente subsequently reentered the U.S. and, on June 7, 2024, was arrested by Groton Town Police and charged with attempted commercial sexual abuse of a minor, attempted sexual assault in the second degree, and attempted risk of injury to a child. The state charges stem from Vincente being caught in an undercover law enforcement operation in which he responded to an advertisement on Skip the Games, a website commonly used to advertise commercial sexual activity, and traveled to a hotel in Groton to meet a 15-year-old girl for sex.

Vincente has been detained since his federal arrest on November 21, 2024.

Judge Nagala scheduled sentencing for January 7, 2026, at which time Vincente faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

This matter has been investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Gordon.

U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the State's Attorney's Office for the Judicial District of New London for its cooperation in the prosecution of this case.