Dominican Doctor And Assistant Arrested For Conspiring To Alter Fingerprints Of Previously Deported Aliens

BOSTON – A Dominican doctor and his assistant were arrested for conspiring to harbor illegal aliens by altering their fingerprints through a surgical process.

Danilo Montero Ramirez, 61, and Teresa Araujo Martinez, 40, were arrested on November 16 for conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

Earlier this month, federal agents became aware that Montero Ramirez, a licensed medical doctor in the Dominican Republic, was coming in the United States to meet with previously deported aliens and perform surgery on their hands to alter their fingerprints. Convicted criminals alter their fingerprints to help conceal their true identities from law enforcement and to disassociate themselves from their prior criminal history.

During the week of November 12, Montero Ramirez arrived in the United States from the Dominican Republic and arranged to perform surgery on individuals for $4,500. Montero Ramirez and Araujo Martinez made arrangements to perform the surgery on Nov. 16. Montero Ramirez and Araujo Martinez were arrested before the surgery began. Had the surgery taken place, these individuals would have been given controlled substances by Araujo Martinez. At the time of the arrests, agents seized surgical cutting equipment, gauze, bandages, syringes and prescription medication from the defendants. Araujo Martinez, also a Dominican citizen, was found to be in possession of a large quantity of pain medication, including Oxycodone and other substances.

If convicted on the charge of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, the defendants face a maximum of 20 years in prison, a fine of $1 million and three years of supervised release. If convicted on the charge of conspiracy to harbor aliens, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Bruce Foucart, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Kenneth G. Shine of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit.

The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.