PHILADELPHIA, PA — Melvin Gutierrez-Almonte, 42, a Dominican national unlawfully residing in Philadelphia, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for illegally reentering the United States after deportation. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph F. Leeson Jr. also ordered him to serve three years of supervised release.
Gutierrez-Almonte admitted to crossing into the United States from Mexico in April 2023 after having been deported on four prior occasions. His previous removals occurred in 2011, 2016, 2018, and 2020. He had not obtained permission to reenter and is a repeat offender, with three previous illegal reentry convictions in the District of Puerto Rico.
Court filings reveal that Gutierrez-Almonte was arrested in May 2024 in New Jersey for alleged assault and stolen property charges, and later in July 2024, in Philadelphia under an alias for aggravated assault and other crimes. Immigration authorities were alerted following his Philadelphia arrest and detained him after his release from police custody.
“Melvin Gutierrez-Almonte is a serial violator of our country’s sovereignty. He has entered the United States illegally and been removed multiple times already,” said U.S. Attorney David Metcalf. “Not only has he flouted our immigration laws, he has also been arrested several times for assault, gun possession, and more.”
“Ensuring the safety of our communities is at the core of our mission at ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations,” added Acting ICE ERO Philadelphia Field Office Director Brian McShane. “This individual’s repeated unlawful reentry and criminal activity posed a significant risk to public safety.”
The case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rosalynda M. Michetti.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.