A Dominican National was sentenced to 8 months in prison for illegally reentering the United States, United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced Friday.
Kelvin Bautista Valdez, 35, was sentenced on his conviction of illegal reentry into the United States of a removed alien, according to the press release.
According to court documents, on Nov. 30, 2022, while conducting training operations in Brewers Bay, Customs and Border Patrol Officers observed a vessel they recognized from a previous smuggling operation involving undocumented migrants. Officers later discovered Valdez among a group of undocumented migrants gathered at the shoreline awaiting transport to Puerto Rico. A record check revealed that Valdez had previously entered the United States and was removed on two prior occasions. When interviewed, Valdez stated that he paid smugglers $26,000 cash for his transport to the United States.
The case was investigated by United States Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kyle Payne and Natasha L. Baker.
