ICE: Accused woman overstays visa
By Karen Jeffrey, Cape Cod.com

May 08, 2012

SOUTH DENNIS - A woman charged with motor vehicle homicide in the death of a Dennis man is now in the custody of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Maria Veras-Alves, 58, a native of Brazil and Dennis resident was arrested by ICE for allegedly overstaying her visa beginning in March 2003, according to Ross Feinstein, ICE spokesman.

Veras-Alves is charged with killing Symen “Jim” Kooy, 76, owner of Blossoms Florist of Cape Cod in Dennis. Kooy died May 2 in Massachusetts General Hospital, four days after being struck as he walked along Route 6A near the Dennis Public Market around 6:30 a.m.

Veras-Alves was initially arrested on a previously issued warrant for driving without a license and comments she made to Dennis police the day of her arrest made them question whether she is in this country legally.

Since then she has been cited for motor vehicle homicide and is scheduled to be arraigned on those charges May 21 in Orleans District Court. She was also investigated by immigration officials who allege she is not in this country legally.

Veras-Alves had been held at the Barnstable County Correctional Facility until she was released into the custody of the federal officials.
The Cape and Islands District Attorney's office intends to prosecute Veras-Alves for the motor vehicle homicide, said Cape and Islands Assistant District Attorney Michael Trudeau.

“We will make arrangement to have her in Orleans District Court for the arraignment,” he said. “We intend to prosecute her for the motor vehicle homicide.”

ICE can proceed with deportation proceedings unless the district attorney's office files a request in state court to remand Veras-Alves back to state custody for the prosecution. If that happens, the clock on the deportation proceeding is halted until the resolution of the state case, according to federal law.

Vera-Alves is now being held at the Strafford County Jail in Dover, N.H., a facility that accepts prisoners held on federal charges.
Staff reporter Jon Offredo contributed to this story.
ICE: Accused woman overstays visa | CapeCodOnline.com


This incident was mentioned at:
Secure communities program to be activated
http://www.alipac.us/f12/secure-comm...usetts-257002/