U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers arrested a previously deported immigrant man prior to boarding a flight at the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport bound to New York.
Felipe Villar, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, made an initial appearance Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce McGiverin, for charges of violating Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326, for re-entry after previous removal or deportation.
During inspections authorized by federal law, the defendant presented to Border Protection Officers a Puerto Rico driver’s license under the name Jose Rojas-Villan, and claiming to be a US citizen.
A closer biometric examination revealed a match to the record of a previous removed immigrant under the name of Felipe Villar, also known as “Candido Luis Cuello Villar.” In 2004, Mr. Villar was removed after U.S. Border Patrol agents apprehended him near Ysleta, Texas.
In 2016, a removal order was reinstated after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents apprehended Mr. Villar at a New Hampshire DMV attempting to renew a fraudulently obtained driver’s license.
Assistant US Attorney Evelyn Canals is in charge of the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Puerto Rico.
If convicted, Ms. Villar faces imprisonment for 10 years.
