Baltimore, Maryland – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland announced an indictment against a 45-year-old El Salvadorian national charged with illegally re-entering the United States after he was convicted of an aggravated felony and was previously removed from the country.Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Acting Field Office Director Vernon Liggins, U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) – Baltimore Field Office.According to the indictment, on January 19, 2026, ICE law enforcement officers encountered Kevin Mendez Vasquez, aka “Kevin Estix Lara Henriquez,” while conducting a vehicle investigation in Elkridge, Maryland. As a result of the traffic stop, and after a positive confirmation, law enforcement officials arrested and charged Mendez Vasquez for illegally re-entering the U.S. Mendez Vasquez did not obtain consent from the Attorney General of the U.S., or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, for readmission into the country.In May 2011, law enforcement officials deported Mendez Vasquez after he was convicted and served a five-year sentence for burglary, grand larceny, and abduction charges connected to three home invasions in Fairfax County, Virgina, during October 2010. Then in 2015, Mendez Vasquez illegally re-entered the U.S. at an unknown location.An indictment is not a finding of guilt.
Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.If convicted, Mendez Vasquez faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.U.S. Attorney Kelly O.
Hayes commended ICE-ERO for its work in the investigation. U.S. Attorney Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Ty Pittinger who is prosecuting the case.For more information about the Maryland U.S.
Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach. # # #