United States of America v. Manuel Yochuzga-Yopangue, a/k/a Manuel Yupangui

An Ecuadorian national deported from the United States in 2008 has pleaded guilty in federal court in Rhode Island to a charge of illegal re-entry, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.



Manuel Yochuzga-Yopangue, a/k/a Manuel Yupangui, 34, most recently came to the attention of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through an automated biometric fingerprint match of fingerprints entered into the National Crime Information Center following his arrest in Rhode Island in May 2025 on state child molestation charges.



Immigration files reflect that Yochuzga-Yopangue was removed from the United States in August 2008. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 28, 2025. The sentence imposed in this matter will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.



The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr.



The matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.



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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).



A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty