Guyanese man arrested, charged with escape

BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Andre Ali, 27, a citizen and national of Guyana, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with escape from custody, which carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.  

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Smith, who is handling the case, stated that in the early morning hours of September l, 2025, at the Rainbow Bridge Port of Entry in Niagara Falls, NY, Customs and Border Protection officers encountered Ali, who was driving a vehicle that made a wrong turn onto the bridge, coming from the United States. Ali did not have an identity document and was escorted to secondary inspection, during which it was determined that he was unlawfully present in the United States. Ali was admitted to the United States in April 2018, as a visitor and was authorized to remain for a temporary period, not to exceed October 15, 2018.

Ali was handcuffed and escorted to a secure room to await his administrative processing. A short time later, an officer opened the door to the secure room to tell Ali that he was being detained and must see a judge. Less than a minute after the officer left the area, Ali climbed on top of a bench in the secure room and proceeded to climb into the ceiling cavity. A short time later, he fell through the ceiling in the room directly adjacent to the secure room, where he crawled under a shelf. Officers quickly noticed Ali had escaped and retook physical control.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by Customs and Border protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.     

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