David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that NELSON ROMERO-MARTINEZ, also known as “Nelson Dario Martinez,” “Nelson Martinez,” “Jose Del Arca,” and “Jose Delarca,” 48, a citizen of Honduras, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with unlawful reentry of a removed alien.
The criminal complaint alleges that Romero-Martinez unlawfully entered the United States in approximately 1999. In 2005, Romero-Martinez was arrested by East Hartford Police for assault offenses related to his stabbing two individuals at a child’s birthday party. In 2006, Romero-Martinez was arrested by Manchester Police for unlawful restraint arising from a domestic physical altercation. In January 2007, Romero-Martinez was convicted and sentenced in state court to five years of imprisonment for these offenses. After he was released from prison, he was removed to Honduras in January 2010.
The complaint further alleges that Romero-Martinez subsequently tried to reenter the U.S. through Texas in 2012 and again in 2013. He was charged each time in the Southern District of Texas with immigration offenses, sentenced, and removed to Honduras. Romero-Martinez again unlawfully reentered the U.S. and, in March 2016, was arrested by Norwich Police for a traffic violation. He was removed to Honduras in April 2016.
The complaint further alleges that Romero-Martinez unlawfully reentered the U.S. and, on August 5, 2023, was arrested by Bridgeport Police in connection with an incident in which he stabbed a man in the chest. In October 2023, Romero-Martinez was charged in the District of Connecticut with illegal reentry and, in March 2024, he was released on bond in his federal case. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took custody of Romero-Martinez pursuant to an immigration detainer and, in April 2024, he was removed to Honduras.
The complaint further alleges that Romero-Martinez again unlawfully reentered the U.S. On August 5, 2025, Romero-Martinez was arrested by New Haven Police and charged with offenses related to an incident in which Romero-Martinez pointed a gun at a family member during a domestic dispute in the presence of several children. In February 2026, Romero-Martinez was convicted in Connecticut Superior Court of a threatening offense and sentenced to 11 months of imprisonment, execution suspended. Earlier this year, he also pleaded guilty to assault in the first degree related to the Bridgeport stabbing in 2023, and had been detained while awaiting sentencing in that case.
Romero-Martinez was transferred into federal custody and he appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven. If convicted of the charge of unlawful reentry, Romero-Martinez faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel M. Krull.
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.