United States Attorney David Metcalf reported that Melvin Gutierrez-Almonte, a 42-year-old Dominican national residing unlawfully in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison. The judgment was handed down by United States District Court Judge Joseph F. Leeson Jr. It includes a three-year term of supervised release for illegal reentry into the United States after deportation.
Gutierrez-Almonte faced charges in September of the prior year and entered a guilty plea in January. He admitted to crossing into Arizona from Mexico illegally in April 2023.
According to records, Gutierrez-Almonte has been deported from the United States four times in the past, specifically in March 2011, September 2016, March 2018, and September 2020. He did not obtain permission to return. He has three prior convictions for illegal reentry, all within the District of Puerto Rico.
The court filings outline that Gutierrez-Almonte was apprehended on May 18, 2024, by the West New York Township Police in Hudson County, New Jersey, charged with simple assault and possessing stolen property. The case is active, and a detainer is placed.
Following this, Gutierrez-Almonte was arrested by Philadelphia Police on July 10, 2024, charged as "Conjeo Almonet" for aggravated assault, possession of an instrument of a crime, and simple assault.
The day succeeding this arrest, ICE officials were notified biometrically about the arrest in Philadelphia. Gutierrez-Almonte was subsequently charged with illegal reentry in a federal criminal complaint. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested him on September 3, 2024, after his release from Philadelphia custody.
“Melvin Gutierrez-Almonte is a serial violator of our country’s sovereignty. He has entered the United States illegally and been removed multiple times already,” U.S. Attorney Metcalf stated. “Not only has he flouted our immigration laws, he has also been arrested several times for assault, gun possession, and more. He is a great example of how certain immigrants repeatedly disrespect our laws. Anyone who wants to come to this country must do so legally, and anyone who wants to stay must honor the obligations of our laws.”
Brian McShane, ICE ERO Philadelphia Acting Field Office Director, expressed, “Ensuring the safety of our communities is at the core of our mission at ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations. This individual’s repeated unlawful reentry and criminal activity posed a significant risk to public safety. By apprehending, prosecuting, and removing those who threaten our neighborhoods, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring the well-being of law-abiding residents. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to uphold our nation’s immigration laws and keep our communities safe.”
The investigation was conducted by ICE ERO and is prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rosalynda M. Michetti.