Deported Man Illegally Returned to U.S., Raped Woman in South Jersey: Feds

A Honduran national appeared in federal court today to face charges that he illegally re-entered the United States after being deported and that he kidnapped a woman in Kansas City, Missouri, and raped her while they traveled to New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced on Monday.

José Amaya-Vasquez, 30, is charged by criminal complaint with one count of kidnaping and one count of illegal re-entry into the United States by an alien after removal. He appeared in federal court on Monday afternoon and was detained.

On June 7, 2014, Amaya-Vasquez was charged with domestic assault against the victim, according to the complaint. He was deported a month later, but was caught allegedly trying to illegally re-enter the country on Sept. 9, 2014.

After serving a 30-day prison sentence, he was deported once again on Oct. 22, 2014.

On Feb. 14, 2005, he was again arrested allegedly trying to re-enter the country. Following this arrest, he failed to make his required July 13, 2005 immigration court appearance.

On May 23 of this year, he met the victim in the parking lot of the Burlington Coat factory in Independence, Missouri, where he allegedly got into her car and threatened her with a knife while her 2-year-old child was in the car.

He took her to an abandoned house in Kansas City and allegedly raped her.

From May 24-25, he took both the victim and her child on a trip from Kansas City to New York. He stopped at motels in Englewood, Ohio, and Bellmawr, New Jersey, and allegedly continued to rape her.

He was captured in Bellmawr on May 26 after detectives in Kansas City used cell phone evidence to determine he was at the Super 8 Motel on the 300 block of the South Black Horse Pike.

When Bellmawr Police responded to the motel, the victim opened the door and told police that Amaya-Vasquez escaped through the tile ceiling.

Police then chased Amaya-Vasquez into a wooded area, where he allegedly attempted to climb a tree before being captured.

He has been in custody in Camden County since his arrest.

The kidnapping charge carries a maximum potential penalty of life in prison. The illegal re-entry into the United States charge carries a maximum potential penalty of two years in prison.