A
Dominican Republic man, who resided unlawfully in the Inwood section of
Manhattan, was deported early Thursday January 24, 2013, and turned over to
Dominican Republic authorities by officers with U.S. Immigration and Custom's
Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). The man, who was
wanted in connection with four murders, was previously removed from the United States
after a felony criminal conviction for selling narcotics. After his prior
deportation, he illegally re-entered the country.
Hector
Vargas-Valero, 39, a Dominican Republic
national, was deported from the United
States via an ICE charter flight. ERO
officers turned him over to Dominican
Republic authorities early Thursday, January
24, 2013. His removal follows his Jan. 7, 2013, arrest by ERO officers assigned
to the agency's Criminal Alien Program.
On
Aug. 26, 2011, Vargas-Valerio and co-conspirators allegedly kidnapped four
individuals in which all were murdered in Santiago,
Dominican Republic.
On Sept. 22, 2011, a judge in Santiago
issued a warrant for Vargas-Valerio's arrest in relation to this alleged crime.
On
July 12, 2012, Interpol issued a "diffusion notice" for
Vargas-Valerio. This notice requests the arrest or location of an individual -
or additional information - in relation to a police investigation.
"Vargas-Valerio
is an international fugitive who allegedly kidnapped and ended four lives in
the Dominican Republic,"
said Raymond A. Simonse, acting field office director for ERO New York.
"He illegally entered the United
States in an attempt to evade justice and
start a new life. We discovered who he really is, and now we have returned him
to his homeland to face prosecution for his alleged crimes."
Vargas-Valerio
was admitted into the United
States as a lawful permanent resident
July 18, 1984. New York Superior Court convicted him Oct. 6, 1993, for selling a
controlled substance. He was subsequently sentenced to 54 months in prison.
Due
to the criminal conviction, his legal status was revoked. On Nov. 18, 1998, the
legacy Immigration and Nationality Service removed Vargas-Valerio from the United States to the Dominican Republic.
After
his deportation, Vargas-Valerio returned to the United States unlawfully. The
agency reinstated his final order of removal from 1998.
Since
Oct. 1, 2009, ERO has removed more than 566 foreign fugitives from the United States
who were being sought in their native countries for serious crimes, including
kidnapping, rape and murder. ERO works with ICE's Office of International
Affairs, foreign consular offices in the United States, and Interpol to
identify foreign fugitives illegally present in the country.
U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations
(HSI) special agents arrested a Dominican Republic citizen at his place of
residence in San Juan Friday, April 13, for production of child pornography.
The
criminal complaint that led to the arrest of Victor M. Rivera-Morales, 41, aka
El Domi, alleges he requested a 15-year-old female send him naked photos of
herself via text messages. According to the minor, Rivera-Morales harassed her
on a daily basis requesting naked photos. In order to stop the harassment, she
took pictures of herself and sent them by text to the Rivera-Morales.
Thereafter, rather than ceasing the harassment, Rivera-Morales continued
requesting more photos.
"The
increase in the number of cases involving child pornography and sexual
enticement in our jurisdiction is alarming," said Angel Melendez, acting
special agent in charge of HSI San Juan. "Those involved in this
despicable crime should know that HSI will pursue them, and we will not rest
until they are brought to justice."
Rivera-Morales'
wife discovered the photos on his cell phone and recognized the female in the
pictures. She showed the pictures to the minor's mother, who filed a complaint
with the Puerto Rico Police Department. Subsequently, the investigation was
referred to HSI.
In
response to the need for an island-wide approach to fighting the escalation of
predatory crimes against children, HSI San Juan partnered with members of
local, state and federal law enforcement, as well as local and state government
officials and community leaders, to form the Puerto Rico Crimes Against
Children Task Force (PRCACTF) in June 2011.
Through
the PRCACTF, federal, local and state law enforcement agencies work together
with state and local government agencies to effectively pool their resources to
jointly investigate all crimes against children in Puerto Rico. Through the
task force, law enforcement agents are encouraged to share evidence, ideas and
share investigative and forensic tools to ensure the most successful
prosecutions possible. As such, the PRCACTF allows law enforcement to speak
with one unified voice in defense of the children of Puerto
Rico.
Rivera-Morales
faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, and a statutory
maximum sentence of 30 years in prison per count.
