Four Indicted for Illegal Re-entry into the United States

PROVIDENCE – A federal grand jury in Providence returned indictments charging four individuals with illegal re-entry into the United States. The defendants were previously deported and allegedly re-entered the country without the permission of the United States government.

The indictments are announced by Acting United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch and C.M. Cronin, Field Office Director for United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

On May 18, 2017, a federal grand jury returned indictments naming

Fernando Cortez Cuevas, 40, of Attleboro, MA. Cuevas, a citizen of Mexico, was previously deported in 2007, having been convicted on felony drug charges and on an obstruction charge. He was most recently arrested by Rhode Island State Police in April 2017 and ordered detained at the ACI on an obstruction charge;

Rosendo Gonzalez Perez, 27, of Providence, RI. Perez, a citizen of Guatemala, was previously deported in 2009 and 2012. Perez was most recently arrested on April 19, 2017, by the Pawtucket Police Department on a motor vehicle violation;

Jose Mercedes Leon, 47, address unknown. Leon, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, previously convicted on drug, assault and fraud charges, and deported in 1999, 2002, 2011, was convicted in Rhode Island in January 2017 on a state felony drug charge; and

Angel Matos, 56, address unknown. Matos, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, previously convicted on multiple drug trafficking and assault charges, was previously deported in 1992, 1997, and 2006. He was recently released from the ACI, having been convicted and sentenced in June 2011 on a felony assault charge.

The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zechariah Chafee, Border Security coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island.