Illegal Alien Charged With Unlawful Reentry

BOSTON – A Dominican national unlawfully residing in Lawrence, Mass. has been charged with illegally reentering the United States after deportation. The defendant was previously deported after completing a state prison sentence for fentanyl distribution. 

Diego De Los Santos Vizcaino, 35, was charged with one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. De Los Santos will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston at a later date. 

According to the charging document, De Los Santos, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, was first encountered by authorities in February 2020, after unlawfully entering the United States from Mexico by swimming across the Rio Grande River. He was subsequently released to Mexico and ordered to appear for removal proceedings in Texas, for which he failed to appear. The hearing was held in his absence, and he was ordered removed by an immigration judge. In October 2020, De Los Santos was found in Lawrence, Mass., in connection with a state residential search warrant, where he was arrested and charged with drug trafficking offenses. De Los Santos later pleaded guilty to six counts of distribution of fentanyl and was sentenced to three years in state prison. He was removed from the United States in July 2023, after completing his state prison sentence. 

It is alleged that, at some point thereafter, De Los Santos unlawfully reentered the United States. In September 2025, De Los Santos was again arrested by state authorities in connection with a residential search warrant execution in Lawrence. De Los Santos was subsequently charged in Essex Superior Court with 11 counts of drug trafficking arising from multiple incidents allegedly occurring in Methuen and Andover between June and September 2025. De Los Santos is currently held in state custody on $75,000 bail in connection with the pending state charges. 

The charge of illegal reentry provides for a sentence of up to two years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $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 David T. Wesling, Acting Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney John L. Potapchuk of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

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