Deported Man Charged for Re-entering U.S. After Fatal Crash

# Deported Man Convicted in Fatal North Haven Crash Accused of Sneaking Back to U.S.: Feds

A man deported after serving time for a deadly crash on I-91 in North Haven has allegedly returned to Connecticut illegally, federal authorities say. Darwin Francisco Quituizaca-Duchitanga, convicted of manslaughter in the 2017 incident that killed Benjamin Franklin Morant, now faces new federal charges after ICE agents picked him up in Meriden last month.

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Fatal Crash and Initial Conviction

The story starts with a tragedy on I-91 in North Haven back in 2017. Quituizaca-Duchitanga, a 39-year-old from Ecuador, was involved in a crash that took the life of Benjamin Franklin Morant from New Haven.

Connecticut State Police launched an investigation, which led to Quituizaca-Duchitanga’s arrest in March 2018. The aftermath was messy, to say the least.

Legal Proceedings Following the Crash

While he waited for trial, ICE officials came across Quituizaca-Duchitanga in Meriden. Suddenly, his immigration status became a second legal headache on top of the criminal charges.

In 2018, an immigration judge ordered him deported, but state authorities took him into custody to answer for the crash in North Haven. The court process played out, and by January 2019, he was convicted of second-degree manslaughter.

The judge gave him a 30-month prison sentence for his role in the fatal wreck on that busy stretch between Hartford and New Haven County.

Deportation and Illegal Reentry

After serving his time in Connecticut, Quituizaca-Duchitanga went back to federal immigration custody. In September 2023, officials deported him to Ecuador.

During deportation, authorities warned him that coming back would be a federal crime. That warning, apparently, didn’t stick.

Return to Connecticut and Arrest

Federal agents now allege that Quituizaca-Duchitanga snuck back into the country. They think he used several aliases, like “Darwin Duchitanga-Quituizaca” and “Juan Mendez-Gutierrez,” to slip under the radar.

His return didn’t stay quiet for long. On June 28, 2025, ICE agents found and arrested Quituizaca-Duchitanga in Meriden, not far from where they’d first encountered him years earlier.

His presence in the state made some folks uneasy, especially in communities stretching from Wallingford to Middletown. Understandable, really.

Current Legal Situation

Now, Quituizaca-Duchitanga faces a federal charge of unlawful reentry after deportation. If convicted, he could get up to 10 years in federal prison—a much stiffer penalty than his original manslaughter sentence.

Implications for Connecticut Communities

This case has drawn attention across New Haven County and beyond. People are talking about immigration enforcement and public safety.

Folks in towns from Hamden to Waterbury have followed the developments, especially those who remember the original fatal crash on I-91.

Law enforcement officials in Connecticut keep working together. Local police, state police, and federal agencies are all coordinating to handle similar situations.

Federal prosecutors haven’t announced when Quituizaca-Duchitanga will appear in court for the illegal reentry charge. The case keeps unfolding as authorities sort out the legal consequences of his return to Connecticut after deportation.

Here is the source article for this story: Deported Man Convicted In Fatal North Haven Crash Accused Of Sneaking Back Into U.S.: Feds

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