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Published: September 22, 2006 12:00 am

Immigration sweep nets 28 convicts, who are now slated for deportation

By Jim Patten
Eagle-Tribune


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LAWRENCE - Some were convicted sex offenders, others had felony drug or assault convictions.
But what the 19 men arrested in four area communities yesterday all have in common will be one-way plane tickets back to their native countries.

Federal agents and local police launched Operation Bad Guys yesterday, rounding up dozens of convicted felons who are also immigrants.

In all, authorities picked up 28 so-called "criminal aliens," including 19 in Lawrence, North Andover, Methuen and Lowell. Others were picked up in Salem and Lynn.

While most of the immigrants were from the Dominican Republic, others were from Turkey, Thailand, Haiti, Guatemala and El Salvador.

The search for convicted immigrants will continue as authorities are targeting some 40 suspects in Essex County.

"This was not our first operation. It won't be our last," said Bruce Chadbourne, director of the New England Field Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, known as ICE.

He said local police told ICE where the criminal aliens were and they set up an operation to take them off the streets.

"We are just working with local law enforcement information," Chadbourne said.

ICE agents waited until they had the number of cases they thought they could handle, and then they moved in, he said.

He said those arrested today would be held in Boston, and those who have been through the deportation process would be sent to their own country of origin.

Those who have not been through the process will have a hearing before an immigration judge to determine whether they should be allowed to remain in the country, Chadbourne said.

Given they have felony convictions, it is unlikely they will be allowed to stay, he said.

Those being deported also will have to have an escort with them on the flight back because of their criminal records.

Aiding agents from ICE were members of the U.S. Marshals Service, Lawrence police and Lawrence District Court probation officers.

The 19 who were detained locally and face deportation proceedings are:

* Liker Oztan, 41, 35 Royal Crest, North Andover, assault and battery on a household member.

* Omar Rojas, 24, 14 Highlawn St., Lawrence, rape of a child, (arrested in Lowell).

* Liduino Faria, 37, 32 Robinson Court, Lawrence, indecent assault and battery on a child.

* Aaron Chirwa, 26, 11 Clementi Lane, Methuen, distribution of cocaine.

* Luis Cubilete, 37, 5 Coney Lake, Lowell, felony drug conviction.

* Rafael Deleon, 39, 570 S. Union St., Lawrence, distribution of cocaine.

* Alexander Dome, 26, 48 Alder St., Lawrence, distribution of cocaine.

* Carlos Reyes, 45, 270 Hampshire St., Lawrence, distribution of cocaine.

* Simon Garcia, 29, 8 Pleasant Terrace, Lawrence, possession of a firearm without a license.

* Gregory German-Perez, 27, 32 Maple St., Lawrence, distribution of cocaine.

* Wilson Alvarado, 34, 216 Walnut St., Lawrence, distribution of cocaine.

* Jose Fernandez, 21, 94 Bennington St., Lawrence, distribution of marijuana.

* Miguel Vasquez, 45, 10 Lexington St., Lawrence, distribution of cocaine.

* Jose Medina, 37, 177 Bailey St., distribution of cocaine.

* Wilson Rodriguez, 21, 46 Melvin St., Lawrence, distribution of heroin.

* Raul Aracena, 30, 121 Arlington St., Lawrence, in the United States illegally.

* Elliot Salgado, 33, 89 Columbus St., Lawrence, distribution of cocaine.

* Martin Nunez, 40, 84 Bunkerhill St., Lawrence, possession of cocaine.

* Luis Tolentino, 42, 34 Washington St. Lawrence, distribution of heroin.

The names of those arrested in Lynn and Salem were not immediately available.