Bristol County pastor charged with sex crimes, witness intimidation, arrested by ICE Boston in North Dartmouth after release

BOSTON — Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston announced Tuesday that they apprehended an unlawfully present Guatemalan noncitizen charged with aggravated rape, witness intimidation and indecent assault and battery of a Massachusetts resident. Officers from ERO Boston arrested 49-year-old Pastor Elmer Perez of Iglesia De Jesucristo Church in New Bedford on August 15th in North Dartmouth.

“Elmer Perez unlawfully entered the United States before making his way to Massachusetts where he allegedly committed vile and disturbing crimes in our Massachusetts community,” said ERO Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “Perez posed a significant threat to our residents that we will not tolerate. ERO Boston will continue to prioritize public safety by apprehending and removing noncitizen offenders from our New England neighborhoods.”

Perez unlawfully entered the United States on an unknown date, at an unknown location, without inspection, admission or parole by a U.S. immigration official.

ERO Boston lodged an immigration detainer against Perez Dec. 20, 2019, with the Bristol County Superior Court

The Bristol County Superior Court arraigned Perez Feb. 21, 2020, on charges of aggravated rape, rape, intimidation of a witness and two counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 years of age. The alleged actions involved a female parishioner.

The Bristol County Superior Court notified ERO Boston that Perez would be released from custody Aug. 15. Authorities at the Bristol Superior Court detention facility honored ERO Boston’s immigration detainer and released Perez Aug. 15 into the custody of ERO Boston deportation officers. Perez remains in ERO custody.