Dominican National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry

BOSTON – A Dominican national unlawfully residing in Lawrence pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to illegally reentering the United States after deportation.
        
Melvin Villar, 60, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien.  U.S. District Court Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for Sept. 16, 2025. Villar was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2025.

Villar was arrested by immigration authorities on Feb. 2, 2025, at the Essex County House of Correction in Middleton following his release from state custody on narcotics trafficking charges. In 2004, 2009, 2019 and 2021, Villar was previously removed following criminal convictions for immigration, drug and firearm offenses – including two prior convictions for unlawful reentry.  

The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

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 made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Grady of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.