Gun suspect told to face deport judge

Gun suspect told to face deport judge
Thursday, July 03, 2008
UNION CITY - A man charged in connection with a shooting last month will face deportation proceedings, authorities say.

Jeffrey Diaz, 20, of 25th Street, was arrested along with Richard Rodriguez, 22, of 26th Street, on June 3 by the Union City Police Department, officials said. Both were charged with aggravated assault, robbery and unlawful possession of a weapon.




Diaz was already in Hudson County jail at the time of "targeted law enforcement operation" by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Diaz is being held at the Hudson County jail pending a grand jury hearing, DeFazio said. If convicted, Diaz will have to serve time for the shooting before being deported to his native Dominican Republic, officials said.

He is one of 76 gang members and 20 people across the state associated with violent street gangs that ICE arrested and issued warrants to appear in front of an immigration judge because they're unlawfully in the country, agency spokesman Harold Ort said.

Twenty one of them were from Hudson County, and most of those had been arrested at some point by local law enforcement agencies, he said.

Cops say Diaz shot a 26-year-old man in the lower back when he and Rodriguez were stealing a gold chain at 2:58 a.m. on June 1. DeFazio said the victim's injuries were not life-threatening. Union City police refused to provide further information about his condition.

Diaz is a member of the Dominican's Don't Play (DDP) street gang, according to a statement by ICE. The sweep also involved the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office, the West New York Police Department and the Union City Police Department.

CHARLES HACK

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