Dominican Man Charged With Illegal Re-entry After Prior Drug Conviction

Yunior Benavides was arrested in West Hartford as part of a drug trafficking investigation.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 4:53pm

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Yunior Benavides, a 49-year-old Dominican national, has been charged with unlawful re-entry into the United States after previously being deported following a federal drug trafficking conviction in 2009. Benavides was arrested on March 6 in West Hartford as part of a drug trafficking investigation by Homeland Security Investigations agents.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing efforts by federal authorities to combat illegal immigration and drug trafficking, particularly involving individuals with prior criminal convictions who have been deported but later returned to the U.S. without authorization.

The details

According to court documents, Benavides was among several people charged in 2009 with federal offenses tied to a narcotics distribution conspiracy in the Hartford area. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 60 months in prison. After completing his sentence, he was deported to the Dominican Republic in November 2013. Authorities allege Benavides later returned to the United States without authorization. On March 6, Homeland Security Investigations agents stopped a vehicle in West Hartford as part of a drug trafficking investigation and identified Benavides, who was driving, as being unlawfully present in the U.S.

  • Benavides was charged in 2009 with federal drug trafficking offenses.
  • Benavides was sentenced to 60 months in prison and deported to the Dominican Republic in November 2013.
  • On March 6, 2026, Benavides was arrested in West Hartford as part of a drug trafficking investigation.

The players

Yunior Benavides

A 49-year-old Dominican national who was previously convicted of federal drug trafficking offenses and deported, but later returned to the United States without authorization.

U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan

The U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut who announced the charges against Benavides.

Michael J. Krol

The special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England, who was involved in the investigation that led to Benavides' arrest.

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What’s next

Benavides appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge on March 12 and was ordered detained pending further proceedings. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The takeaway

This case demonstrates the continued focus of federal authorities on cracking down on illegal re-entry by individuals with prior criminal records, as part of a broader effort to combat drug trafficking and transnational criminal organizations.