REVERE, MA - An illegal immigrant from the Dominican Republic was arrested for possession of over $1 million worth of fentanyl and an AR-15 rifle on December 27 in a state taxpayer-subsidized hotel room of Massachusetts' emergency housing program.
Leonardo Andujar Sanchez, 28, as reported by Fox News, was arrested by the Revere Police Department and was arrested on firearm charges, including an alien in possession of a firearm, and for possession of about 10 pounds of the lethal synthetic drug.
According to a press release from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Andujar Sanchez is currently in state custody and is under an immigration detainer.
Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde told reporters, “Mr. Andujar has been accused of serious crimes, and ERO Boston takes its public safety mission very seriously — which is why we’ve lodged an immigration detainer against him with Revere police. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has charged him with possessing dangerous weapons and drug trafficking, and with the Revere Police Department’s cooperation, we intend to take him into ICE custody upon his release.”
The release noted that in a Spanish language interview officers with the ERO found that he entered the United States illegally in the past year, but were unable to determine his point of entry. In total, Andujar Sanchez was arraigned on charges for “possessing a firearm and a large capacity feeding device, possessing a firearm in a felony, being an alien in possession of a firearm, the unlicensed sale or possession of an assault weapon, and trafficking in 200 grams or more of heroin, morphine, opium or fentanyl.”
As The Boston Herald reports, a Republican State Senator of Massachusetts has demanded that the court records in Andujar Sanchez’s case be made public. “If there’s anything I can do to effectuate change it’s demanding that the documents in this case be made public,” Sen. Ryan Fattman, told reporters Friday.“The public has a right to know what they’re funding.”
The outlet reported that the Dominican illegal immigrant was arrested at a Quality Inn used by the state to shelter migrants where he and his family had reportedly stayed since October 15th citing information from the Executive Office of Housing & Livable Communities (EOHLC).
EOHLC spokesman Noah Bombard told the Herald that the suspect was evicted from the shelter following his arrest. “We took immediate action to terminate this individual from the EA system, and we confirmed with federal immigration officials that they have lodged a detainer.”
The Herald also noted that Andujar Sanchez has obtained the services of a private attorney, John Benzan. Ostensibly, an individual needing emergency shelter would not be expected to have the resources to pay for legal counsel. As the Herald reports an applicant for the shelter program must be within 115% of federal poverty guidelines, with a single person making less than $1,443 per month with an additional $516 approximately per additional family member.
“The free-for-all that is right to shelter has to be reformed,” Fattman told the outlet, characterizing the charges against the suspect as “sickening” and “outrageous.”
Leonardo Andujar Sanchez, 28, as reported by Fox News, was arrested by the Revere Police Department and was arrested on firearm charges, including an alien in possession of a firearm, and for possession of about 10 pounds of the lethal synthetic drug.
According to a press release from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Andujar Sanchez is currently in state custody and is under an immigration detainer.
Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde told reporters, “Mr. Andujar has been accused of serious crimes, and ERO Boston takes its public safety mission very seriously — which is why we’ve lodged an immigration detainer against him with Revere police. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has charged him with possessing dangerous weapons and drug trafficking, and with the Revere Police Department’s cooperation, we intend to take him into ICE custody upon his release.”
Arrest Leads to Seizure of an AR-15 Assault Rifle & Fentanyl Worth Over a Million Dollars!
— Revere Police (@reverepolice) January 3, 2025
Officers arrested Leonardo Andujar Sanchez 28. C.I.D, S.I.U & @SheriffSuffolk recovered 10lbs of Fentanyl estimated street value over $1 milllion & a loaded AR-15 with ammo.@Revere311 pic.twitter.com/5nVZkfWjNv
The release noted that in a Spanish language interview officers with the ERO found that he entered the United States illegally in the past year, but were unable to determine his point of entry. In total, Andujar Sanchez was arraigned on charges for “possessing a firearm and a large capacity feeding device, possessing a firearm in a felony, being an alien in possession of a firearm, the unlicensed sale or possession of an assault weapon, and trafficking in 200 grams or more of heroin, morphine, opium or fentanyl.”
@EROBoston identifies, lodges immigration detainer against Dominican national accused of multiple drug and gun crimes
— ERO Boston (@EROBoston) January 3, 2025
Link: https://t.co/ONGRSTdqDq pic.twitter.com/VcOQr6WTrT
As The Boston Herald reports, a Republican State Senator of Massachusetts has demanded that the court records in Andujar Sanchez’s case be made public. “If there’s anything I can do to effectuate change it’s demanding that the documents in this case be made public,” Sen. Ryan Fattman, told reporters Friday.“The public has a right to know what they’re funding.”
The outlet reported that the Dominican illegal immigrant was arrested at a Quality Inn used by the state to shelter migrants where he and his family had reportedly stayed since October 15th citing information from the Executive Office of Housing & Livable Communities (EOHLC).
EOHLC spokesman Noah Bombard told the Herald that the suspect was evicted from the shelter following his arrest. “We took immediate action to terminate this individual from the EA system, and we confirmed with federal immigration officials that they have lodged a detainer.”
The Herald also noted that Andujar Sanchez has obtained the services of a private attorney, John Benzan. Ostensibly, an individual needing emergency shelter would not be expected to have the resources to pay for legal counsel. As the Herald reports an applicant for the shelter program must be within 115% of federal poverty guidelines, with a single person making less than $1,443 per month with an additional $516 approximately per additional family member.
“The free-for-all that is right to shelter has to be reformed,” Fattman told the outlet, characterizing the charges against the suspect as “sickening” and “outrageous.”
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Comments
2025-01-15T22:54-0500 | Comment by: Art
Well, now we find out why the Governor is ordering background checks on people staying in homeless shelters. It's pretty sad providing taxpayer provided shelter to a person worth $1 million who's selling drugs...