Derek Rego, Escape from Residential Re-Entry Center, Massachusetts 2024
BOSTON - A brazen escape from a residential re-entry center in Boston has landed a local man behind bars for 18 months. Derek Rego, 37, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for leaving the center where he was serving the remainder of his federal sentence for drug distribution.
According to authorities, Rego was serving his sentence at a residential re-entry center in Boston after being transferred from a correctional institution. He was permitted to work and was employed, but his employment came to an end when he failed to return to the center after being instructed to quarantine due to COVID-19 concerns.
Rego was informed that he would receive random phone calls and pass site visits to ensure his compliance with the quarantine rules. However, on April 3, 2020, RRC staff attempted an in-person spot check at Rego's temporary pass site, but he never returned to the center. His whereabouts were unknown for almost one month.
Rego was eventually arrested in Boston on May 4, 2020, on unrelated state domestic violence charges that were later dismissed. His escape from the residential re-entry center led to a federal indictment, and he pleaded guilty to one count of escape in September 2024.
In September 2012, Rego was sentenced in federal court in Boston to 120 months in prison for distribution of cocaine. His recent sentence will run concurrent with the eight months he was sentenced to for violating the terms of his supervised release on a prior federal conviction.
The United States Attorney Leah B. Foley, Brian Kyes, United States Marshal for the District of Massachusetts, and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox announced the sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus, David G. Tobin, and Lauren Maynard of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
The case serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to the rules and regulations in place for individuals serving time in residential re-entry centers. Rego's actions not only put himself at risk but also compromised the safety of those around him.
The sentencing of Derek Rego is a significant development in this case, and we will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that justice is served.
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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