SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico –U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers found and arrested Saturday a previously deported alien from the Dominican Republic attempting to fly to Philadelphia using fraudulent documents.
Jose Alberto Peña-Solano, 39, a citizen of the Dominican Republic appeared Monday before the US District Court Magistrate Judge Marcos López to face charges for violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(b)(2), for re-entering after a previous removal or deportation subsequent to a conviction for commission of an aggravated felony.
authorized to inspect passengers
traveling from Puerto Rico to the US.
“Our officers are always vigilant to arrest and identify criminals who attempt to enter the country and elude detection using fraudulent documents,” stated Edwin Cruz, San Juan Area Port Director.
CBP Officers conducting inspections, as authorized by federal law, found Mr. Peña-Solano before boarding a flight from the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport bound to Philadelphia. The defendant claimed to be Armando Javier Agosto-Nieves, a Citizen of the United States by presenting a Puerto Rico Driver’s License, a Puerto Rico Birth Certificate and a Social Security Card as proof of identity.
Referred to secondary inspection, a biometric database revealed that the defendant was arrested by the New Castle Police Department, Delaware, serving time in 2008 and 2011, for various charges related to narcotics possession and trafficking. Mr. Peña-Solano was removed from the United States in 2015.
CBP enforcement officers presented the case to Assistant US Attorney Evelyn Canals for prosecution.
If convicted, Mr. Peña-Solano could be fined, imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.
All defendants are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law.