Dominican National Pleads Guilty to Illegally Reentering U.S.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that OLIVER JOAN UBIERA MALENO, 36, a citizen of the Dominican Republic last residing in Danbury, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to illegal reentry by a removed alien. 

According to court documents and statements made in court, in July 2002, Ubiera Maleno, who at the time was a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., was sentenced in federal court in Alaska to 37 months of imprisonment for possessing with intent to distribute a controlled substance.  In December 2003, he was sentenced in state court in Harris County, Texas, to 15 years of imprisonment for possessing with intent to deliver 400 grams or more cocaine.  Ubiera Maleno was removed to the Dominican Republic in August 2009 after he had served the federal sentence and a portion of the Texas sentence.

On April 19, 2018, the Danbury Police Department arrested Ubiera Maleno for drug distribution offenses.  He has been detained since his arrest, and the state charges are pending.

The charge of illegal reentry carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  A sentencing date is not scheduled.

This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Chen.