Dominican Man Sentenced For Illegal Reentry

BOSTON – A Dominican man was sentenced yesterday for illegally re-entering the United States after previously being deported to the Dominican Republic.

Lenny Soto-Mateo, 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 21 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

In 2007, Soto-Mateo was convicted in U.S. District Court of aggravated identity theft and making false statements in application for a United States passport, and was sentenced to 25 months in prison. Following the completion of his sentence, Soto-Mateo was placed into removal proceedings and was deported back to the Dominican Republic. In 2009, Soto-Mateo was encountered by ICE officials in Louisiana. Soto-Mateo was charged in U.S. District Court in Western Louisiana with illegal reentry of a previously deported alien, and was sentenced to 15 months in prison. Following the completion of his sentence, Soto-Mateo was placed into removal proceedings and was deported to the Dominican Republic.

In 2012 immigration officials encountered Soto-Mateo following his arrest by the Boston Police Department. Soto-Mateo’s fingerprints were examined and determined to be a positive match on the two prior deportation warrants. Soto-Mateo was transferred into ICE custody and charged in the District of Massachusetts with illegal reentry.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Bruce M. Foucart, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit.