Man Deported Three Times Indicted After Fatal Crash That Killed 6-Year-Old

RALEIGH, N.C. — A Mexican national who federal authorities say had been deported from the United States three times before returning illegally has now been indicted by a federal grand jury following a traffic collision in eastern North Carolina that claimed the life of a 6-year-old girl.

A federal grand jury in Raleigh returned an indictment on July 22 charging Jaime Santiago-Corona, 33, also known as Jaime Guzman Corona, with illegal reentry by a previously removed alien.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Santiago allegedly reentered the United States without authorization after previously being deported on October 9, 2019, June 12, 2023, and June 17, 2024.

The federal indictment stems from an investigation that followed a tragic traffic crash in Pitt County on July 3.

Authorities said Santiago allegedly failed to stop at the intersection of County Home Road and Warren Jones Road, causing a collision with a vehicle occupied by a mother and her two young daughters.

The mother and her 4-year-old daughter suffered serious injuries.

Six-year-old Calli died at the scene.

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol charged Santiago with multiple offenses, including misdemeanor death by motor vehicle.

Following his arrest, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged an immigration detainer requesting North Carolina officials keep Santiago in custody for federal immigration proceedings.

If convicted of the federal charge of illegal reentry, Santiago faces up to two years in federal prison before being subject to removal from the United States.

U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle announced the indictment. The case is being investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), the division responsible for identifying, arresting, detaining, and removing individuals who are unlawfully present in the United States or otherwise subject to removal.

Federal prosecutors said the case is part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative targeting illegal immigration, transnational criminal organizations, and violent crime.

A GoFundMe campaign to assist Calli’s family with funeral expenses and other financial needs was started following the devastating loss.