A Brazilian man living in Worcester, Mass., has been indicted on federal charges of illegal reentry after previously being deported from the United States, according to a recent announcement by the Department of Justice. Thiago Aquino-De Paula, 34, has been charged following a federal grand jury indictment for one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. The case originated from a complaint filed last month, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts.
Documents pertaining to the case allege that Aquino-De Paula, who was first deported on Nov. 4, 2021, illegally reentered the United States at an unspecified time after his removal. He was later detained in Massachusetts following an arrest in Uxbridge, where he was charged with operating under the influence, leading to his current detention in federal custody. The offense of unlawful reentry carries potential penalties, including a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and fines of up to $250,000. The charges are allegations, and Aquino-De Paula is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The Department of Justice's announcement came with comments from United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, who is the Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston – both are involved in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin J. Brown of the Worcester Branch Office has taken up prosecutorial duties for the government.
Should Aquino-De Paula be convicted of the unlawful reentry charge, following the completion of any sentence imposed, he would also be subject to deportation. The court's decision will be influenced by guidelines and statutes that govern sentencing in criminal cases, with federal district court judges responsible for imposing these sentences. Aquino-De Paula’s future depends on the outcome of these legal proceedings.
