Dominican national deported 3 times, sentenced for illegal re-entry

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A Dominican national with a lengthy criminal record, who was previously deported from the United States three times, was sentenced Friday to 70 months in federal prison for illegal re-entry. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Domingo Torres-Rodriguez, 39, of Pawtucket, R.I., had been arrested in November 2010 by Pawtucket Police on drug and identity fraud charges. He appeared for sentencing before U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith.

According to court documents, Torres-Rodriguez's violent felony criminal record began in 1990. He was previously deported in March 1992, March 1999, and February 2006, all following felony convictions for drugs and an assault.

Following his arrest in November 2010, Torres-Rodriguez admitted to HSI special agents that in 2008, he returned to the United States by ship to Philadelphia.

The sentencing of Torres-Rodriguez was announced by Bruce M. Foucart, special agent in charge of HSI in New England and U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha, District of Rhode Island.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zechariah Chafee.

Torres-Rodriguez is awaiting trial in Rhode Island state court on drug and identity fraud charges brought by Pawtucket Police.