COLUMBUS, Ohio – A convicted sex offender who was previously deported has been arrested and charged at the federal level for illegally reentering the United States, authorities announced.

Carlos Gonzales Hernandez, 55, a citizen of El Salvador, is scheduled to appear in federal court in Columbus on Wednesday after being taken into custody earlier this month.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Gonzales Hernandez was convicted in Franklin County in August 2017 on three felony counts of gross sexual imposition. He was sentenced to six years in prison. Following the completion of his sentence, he was removed from the United States in September 2022 under a final immigration order.

Despite his removal, officials say Gonzales Hernandez unlawfully reentered the country. His arrest occurred on Jan. 2 when Madison County sheriff’s deputies pulled him over for traffic violations. He was taken into custody and booked at the Tri-County Regional Jail in Mechanicsburg. Federal authorities then intervened, taking him into federal custody on charges of illegal reentry.

Under federal law, illegal reentry into the U.S. after deportation is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. However, if his prior conviction is classified as an aggravated felony, the penalty could increase to a maximum of 20 years.

Authorities have not yet released details on how or when Gonzales Hernandez reentered the country.