Guatemalan national arrested nine times, sentenced for heroin trafficking, illegal re-entry

PROVIDENCE – A Guatemalan national deported from the United States in June 2004, has been sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for reentering the country illegally and for trafficking heroin.

According to information presented to the Court, prior to being deported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, Eduardo Alvarez-Gamez, 43, was arrested nine times. Eight of the arrests involved larcenous conduct, involving six victims. He was removed from the United States on June 14, 2004.

Alvarez-Gamez was arrested by members of the Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force on February 26, 2019, after he made two deliveries of heroin, totaling nearly a kilogram. The deliveries were monitored by members of the DEA Drug Task Force. The heroin was quickly seized by law enforcement following each delivery.

Alvarez-Gamez pleaded guilty on October 2, 2019, to distribution of one hundred grams or more of heroin and illegal re-entry.

At sentencing on Friday, Alvarez-Gamez was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith to 36 months in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Field Division Brian D. Boyle, and Todd M. Lyons, Acting Field Office Director, ICE Enforcement & Removal Operations, Boston Field Office.

Alvarez-Gamez faces deportation proceedings upon completion of his term of incarceration.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr.