Danbury Man Pleads Guilty to Reentering U.S. Illegally

DANBURY, CT — A local man who is a citizen of the Dominican Republic has pleaded guilty to re-entering the country illegally.

Freddy Anonio Marte-Jerez, 58, made his plea Monday at the district court in Bridgeport.

According to court documents, in 1998, Marte-Jerez’s wife had provided documentation and filed a petition with the Immigration and Naturalization Service certifying that she was a U.S. citizen and that she and Marte-Jerez were legally married. After the petition was approved, Marte-Jerez applied for permanent residence status. This application was denied based on Marte-Jerez’s failure to disclose a prior narcotics conviction in Rhode Island, according to court documents. In November 2000, Marte-Jerez appeared before an immigration judge in Hartford and was released on bond while awaiting a hearing date.

In October 2007, Marte-Jerez was convicted in Danbury Superior Court for sale of illegal drugs. On March 3, 2010, following completion of his state sentence, Marte-Jerez was deported to the Dominican Republic.

Marte-Jerez reentered the U.S. and was arrested while using the name "Antonio Nunez" in Danbury. In December 2015, Marte-Jerez was convicted of third-degree burglary . He was sentenced to three years in jail, execution suspended, and three years of probation. Based on his use of a false identity, his arrest and conviction did not become known to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

On March 19, 2018, Marte-Jerez, using a different identity, was arrested in Danbury for motor vehicle offenses. His true identity was subsequently discovered through a fingerprint comparison and ICE took him into custody following his release from a state court appearance on June 27, 2018. He has been detained since his arrest.

When he is sentenced, Marte-Jerez faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years for illegal reentry. A sentencing date is not scheduled.