Ecuadorian man arrested in Elba as part of ‘Operation Take Back America’

Press Release, U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo, Western District of New York

ELBA – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Luis Castro Mayancela, 24, a citizen of Ecuador, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with re-entry after prior removal, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sasha Mascarenhas and Andrew J. Henning, who are handling the case, stated that on March 26, law enforcement was conducting surveillance on Mill Street in Buffalo. The target was an illegal alien who unlawfully entered the United States. A vehicle arrived at the Mill Street address and two Hispanic males exited the target residence and entered the vehicle.

Investigators continued to surveil the vehicle, eventually conducting an investigative vehicle stop near Ford Road in Elba. Four people were inside the vehicle, including Mayancela. Record checks determined that he was illegally present in the United States, having been ordered removed from the United States in December 2019.

Mayancela made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was detained.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Emergency Removal Operations, under the direction of Acting Field Office Director Steven Kurzdorfer.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.