Ecuadoran citizen deported after finishing sentence in dragging death of 23-year-old Massachusetts motorcyclist

BOSTON — Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston deportation officers arrested and removed to Ecuador an unlawfully present Ecuadoran citizen on March 31.

According to ERO Boston, 46-year-old Nicolas Dutan Guaman was convicted in a Massachusetts state court in 2014 on multiple felony charges related to the dragging death of 23-year-old motorcyclist Matthew Denice. According to evidence at the state criminal trial, unlawfully present Guaman was driving under the influence of alcohol in Milford, Massachusetts, when he ran through a stop sign, struck the motorcyclist, and dragged him a quarter-mile to his death. Although a state appellate court later set aside the motor vehicle homicide conviction, Guaman served state prison time on all remaining charges. Following his release from Massachusetts Department of Corrections’ custody on March 30, ERO Boston arrested Guaman; he was removed to Ecuador March 31.

“ERO Boston is proud to help bring some measure of justice to the family of the victim in this case that ignited so much public outrage at the heinous nature of the crimes Guaman was convicted of,” said ERO Boston Field Office Director Todd Lyons. “No matter how long it takes, rest assured that ERO Boston will carry out our mission to remove any unlawfully present individuals who pose a danger and threat to the safety and security of our communities.”

In October 2011, ERO Boston encountered Guaman at the Worcester County House of Correction while he was being held on charges of manslaughter by motor vehicle, motor vehicle homicide while operating under the influence of liquor and related charges. At that time, ERO Boston lodged an immigration detainer request for Guaman pending the outcome of those charges. In 2014, Guaman was convicted and sentenced to state prison.

In March 2020, ERO Boston issued Guaman a notice to appear before an immigration judge for his immigration violations. A federal immigration judge with the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review issued Guaman a final order of removal from the United States in November 2021.