A Dominican national has been indicted for reentering the United States illegally after deportation. Melvin Villar, a 60-year-old resident of Lawrence, Massachusetts, was arraigned on charges of unlawful reentry of a deported alien.
Villar was apprehended by immigration authorities on February 2, 2025, at the Essex County House of Correction in Middleton. He had previously been convicted of unlawful reentry in February 2021 in the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts.
The charge carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine reaching $250,000. Upon completion of any sentence imposed, Villar will be subject to deportation. Sentences are determined by a federal district court judge according to U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes governing criminal cases.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Grady from the Major Crimes Unit is leading the prosecution.
It is important to note that the details outlined in the charging documents are allegations at this stage. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.