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Press Release

Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Immigration and Drug Charges

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Connecticut

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and William S. Walker, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Boston, announced that LUCIANO SOLIS-SANCHEZ, 36, a citizen of Mexico last residing in Waterbury, pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to immigration and controlled substances offenses.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Solis-Sanchez has never held legal status in the U.S.  In April 2007, Solis-Sanchez was encountered by U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) in Arizona and was granted voluntary return to Mexico.  In November 2017, he was again encountered by USBP and was removed to Mexico.  Approximately one week after his removal, Solis-Sanchez was again encountered by USBP in Arizona while attempting to unlawfully enter the U.S.  He was charged and convicted of illegal entry and was again removed to Mexico.

On two occasions in May 2019, Solis-Sanchez was encountered by USBP in Texas and was removed to Mexico.

On March 3, 2020, Solis-Sanchez was arrested by Waterbury Police on charges of possession of narcotics with intent to sell, possession of drugs near a prohibited place, operating a motor vehicle without a license, and driving the wrong way on a one-way street.  He was released by the state on a promise to appear.  Federal authorities subsequently learned the arrest and obtained an arrest warrant for Solis-Sanchez charging him with illegal reentry.

On January 8, 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspected a UPS package that originated in Zapopan, Mexico, and was addressed to “Alfonso Perez, 39 Bucks Hill Rd, Waterbury, CT 06704 United States,” which was Solis-Sanchez’s residence.  The package contained a handcrafted lamp that had two bundles containing approximately 498 grams of methamphetamine hidden behind a fiberglass panel.

On January 13, 2021, law enforcement made a controlled delivery of the package to 39 Bucks Hill Road, and then executed a search warrant at the residence.  The search revealed a distribution quantity of cocaine.  Solis-Sanchez was arrested a short time later.  At the time of his arrest, he possessed an additional quantity of cocaine that he intended to sell.  Solis-Sanchez admitted that he arranged for the delivery of the package containing methamphetamine, and also received cocaine shipments from the same supplier.

Solis-Sanchez pleaded guilty one count of reentry of a removed alien, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of two years, and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.  He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant on October 13, 2021.

Solis-Sanchez has been detained since January 13, 2021.

This investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Connecticut State Police, Statewide Narcotics Task Force, Northwest.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angel M. Krull and Deborah R. Slater.

Updated June 24, 2021

Topics
Drug Trafficking
Immigration