Dominican National Sentenced for Illegal Reentry After Deportation

BOSTON - A Dominican national was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for illegally reentering the United States after being deported.  

Herminio Polanco-Huma, 26, a Dominican national formerly residing in Lawrence, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel Gorton to six months in prison and one year of supervised release, to be served consecutive to a three year and one day state sentence he is currently serving for fentanyl distribution. In June 2018, Polanco-Huma pleaded guilty to one count of illegal reentry of a deported alien. Upon completion of his sentences, he will be subject to deportation.

In February 2017, federal law enforcement encountered Polanco-Huma in Florida and determined that he was illegally present in the United States. Polanco-Huma was placed into removal proceedings, and on Feb. 21, 2017, he was deported to the Dominican Republic.

In November 2017, Polanco-Huma was encountered while awaiting trial at the Essex County House of Corrections. Polanco-Huma’s prints were obtained and found to be a positive match to prints contained in his Alien File. In May 2018, Polanco-Huma was convicted in Essex Superior Court of distribution of fentanyl and sentenced to three years and one day in prison.  

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Todd M. Lyons, Acting Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.