STAMFORD, Conn. — Federal prosecutors say a 42-year-old man arrested in Stamford has been charged with illegally reentering the United States after being removed in 2013. The case stems from a criminal complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut and follows a string of local arrests and convictions dating back to 2012.
What happened and what changes for residents
The defendant, identified in the complaint as Yovani De Jesus Alvarez Murillo, appeared Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven and was ordered detained, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan. The filing alleges Alvarez Murillo previously was removed from the United States and later reentered illegally.
"Alvarez Murillo admitted that he had illegally entered the U.S. in approximately 2002 by crossing the border from Mexico,"
The complaint says Immigration and Customs Enforcement interviewed Alvarez Murillo while he was serving a sentence in Connecticut Department of Correction custody. He was removed to Honduras in October 2013, then allegedly returned to the U.S. and was arrested several times in the region under different names, the announcement states.
Local arrest history
Federal and local records cited in the complaint place Alvarez Murillo in Stamford and surrounding counties on multiple occasions. Stamford police and court records cited include arrests and convictions for various offenses. Key points from the complaint and court filings include:
- October 2012: Arrested by Stamford police on a forgery charge; convicted and sentenced.
- August 2021: Arrested in Stamford under the name "Geovany Alvares-Murillo" on second-degree breach of peace; convicted and fined $150.
- May 2023 and November 2024: Additional Stamford-area arrests, including a third-degree criminal trespass charge in 2023.
- August 2025: Arrested in Stamford under the name "Geovanny Alvares" for operating a vehicle without a required ignition interlock device; convicted in May 2026 and served a 60-day state sentence before transfer to ICE custody.
| Date | Alleged offense | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 2012 | Second-degree forgery | Convicted, sentenced |
| Aug. 2021 | Second-degree breach of peace | Convicted, $150 fine |
| May 2023 | Third-degree criminal trespass | Arrest |
| Nov. 2024 | Arrest (details in complaint) | Arrest |
| Aug. 2025 | Operating without ignition interlock | Convicted; 60-day sentence; transferred to ICE |
Agencies involved and next steps
The investigation and charging were announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut. Charges of illegal reentry are pursued by federal prosecutors and typically handled in U.S. District Court if the complaint is followed by an indictment. Stamford police provided the arrest records that feature in the complaint, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted interviews while the defendant was in state custody.
Alvarez Murillo remains detained pending further federal proceedings. The complaint’s allegations have not been proven in court. Any sentencing in federal court, if convicted, could include imprisonment and removal proceedings administered by ICE.
For Stamford residents, the case highlights how local arrests can become part of federal immigration enforcement when detainees are identified as noncitizens with prior removal orders. Police officials and federal authorities often coordinate in such cases, particularly after convictions that result in state custody.
News Block will monitor court filings and local law enforcement announcements for updates on the case and any scheduled hearings in federal court.
