ICE Massachusetts arrests twice-removed Dominican fugitive convicted of drug, firearm and identity theft charges

BOSTON — Officers with Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston arrested a Dominican national who was removed from the United States on two previous occasions. The noncitizen had been convicted on multiple felony charges, including intent to distribute heroin, illegal firearms possession, aggravated identity theft, false representation of a social security number and unlawful reentry after deportation. The convicted felon was apprehended October 4th in Methuen while possessing fentanyl and cocaine.

“Career criminal fugitives do not have a right to violate our immigration laws repeatedly and endanger our communities,” said ERO Boston Field Office Director Todd Lyons. “It’s because of the tireless work and dedicated service of ERO Boston officers that this criminal has been taken off our streets. I’m very appreciative of the support from our local partners including the Methuen Police Department for their assistance in this arrest. ERO Boston remains strongly committed to protecting our communities from dangerous criminal fugitives who threaten our public safety.”

The 43-year-old citizen of the Dominican Republic was previously arrested by immigration authorities in May 2011, after authorities determined he was unlawfully present in the United States following his arrest for violating Massachusetts state firearms laws. In August 2012, he was convicted of and sentenced to federal prison for aggravated identity theft. In July 2013, he was removed from the United States by order of a federal immigration judge.

In June 2014, the Dominican native was arrested on immigration charges by ERO Boston officers in Manchester, New Hampshire. He was referred for prosecution on charges of aggravated identity theft and unlawful reentry to the United States after deportation, for which he was convicted and served a two-year federal prison sentence starting in 2015. He was removed from the United States a second time in June 2018.

In December 2022, local police in Salem, New Hampshire, arrested him on motor vehicle violations. In February 2023, ERO Boston lodged an immigration detainer for custody of the Dominican fugitive, but he was subsequently released from Massachusetts state custody. ERO Boston arrested him without incident, and he will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

The name of the suspect was not released.