CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Two Dominican Republic nationals previously deported from the country have returned to the United States using St. Thomas as their staging ground.
Kelvin Bautista Valdez, 35, and Gilberto Antonio Estrella, 59, each of Santo Domingo, were charged with illegally re-entering the United States after being removed, U.S. Attorney Delia L. Smith said.
According to court documents, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations agents observed a vessel in the area of John Brewers Bay in St. Thomas on Wednesday that they recognized from a previous law enforcement encounter involving the transportation of undocumented migrants.
Shortly thereafter, CBP agents on the ground responded to Brewers Bay where they observed seven individuals at the shoreline who appeared to be waiting for transportation.
The individuals, including Bautista Valdez and Estrella, admitted that they were all undocumented and were awaiting transport to Puerto Rico. None in the group could identify who or what type of vessel would provide their transport.
An immigration record check revealed that neither had received permission to enter the United States, and that Bautista Valdez and Estrella had previously entered the United States illegally and were both removed.
Bautista Valdez later admitted that he had paid traffickers $4,500.00 for his transport and Estrella admitted that he paid traffickers $4,800.00 for his transport.
The investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Customs
and Border Protection (CBP). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Payne.
