Burlington, Vermont – An Ecuadorian man, Alex Patin-Patin, 28, has been charged with being unlawfully present in the United States after previously being removed by immigration officials. The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont reported that during an arraignment on February 5, 2025, before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle, Patin-Patin pleaded not guilty to the indictment. Judge Doyle ordered his detention during the proceedings at a hearing on February 6.
Court records indicate that Patin-Patin entered the United States unlawfully around February 2022 and was subsequently removed by federal authorities in July 2022. His re-entry details remain unknown; however, he was arrested in April 2024 in South Burlington, Vermont. The Chittenden County State’s Attorney’s Office charged him with aggravated domestic assault among other charges. His presence in the U.S. was deemed illegal as he had not obtained permission to re-enter.
In October 2024, a federal grand jury indicted Patin-Patin for this offense and issued a warrant for his arrest. Recent surveillance revealed he had been residing at an address contrary to conditions set by the Vermont Superior Court related to his state domestic assault case.
The United States Attorney’s Office clarified that an indictment contains only allegations and emphasized that Patin-Patin is presumed innocent until proven guilty. If convicted, he faces up to two years’ imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. The actual sentence would be determined by the District Court following advisory guidelines and statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher praised the collaborative efforts of various agencies including Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Enforcement and Removal Operations, Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and United States Marshals Service.
Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Lasher and Michelle Arra are prosecuting the case while Patin-Patin is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender.