SYRACUSE, NY – Carlos Manuel Valdez, 40, of the Dominican Republic, is heading back to a cell – this time for six years. The feds dropped a 60-month sentence on Valdez yesterday for the simple act of returning to the United States after being deported, a move compounded by a hefty narcotics charge.
The case, announced by U.S. Attorney Carla B. Freedman alongside HSI Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino and Broome County Sheriff Frederick Akshar II, reveals a pattern of criminal behavior. Valdez wasn’t just sneaking back into the country; he was doing it with over a kilogram of fentanyl in tow. This wasn’t a simple immigration violation, it was a clear indication of intent to continue dealing poison on American streets.
Court documents show Valdez’s rap sheet extends back to Massachusetts, where he racked up felony convictions – including a violent assault on a police officer and possession of narcotics with intent to distribute – before his initial deportation in 2019. Apparently, a one-way ticket home wasn’t enough to deter him. In February 2023, Broome County deputies found Valdez inside a vehicle positively brimming with fentanyl, enough to kill thousands.
The state authorities in Broome County didn’t waste time, sentencing Valdez to a six-year stretch in state prison for the narcotics. But the feds weren’t done. U.S. District Court Judge David Hurd ordered Valdez’s 60-month federal sentence to run consecutively to the state sentence. Translation: Valdez won’t even begin serving his federal time until he’s finished every last day of his New York State sentence. A double-tap of justice, if you will.
The investigation was a coordinated effort. Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, and the Broome County Special Investigations Unit Task Force – a combined force of county and city cops – all played a role in bringing Valdez to justice. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Gillis handled the prosecution, ensuring Valdez faced the full weight of the law.
This case is a stark reminder that crossing the border illegally isn’t a victimless crime. It’s often tied to far more dangerous activity, like the trafficking of deadly narcotics. Valdez’s attempt to profit from fentanyl has earned him a decade behind bars, and a clear message has been sent: bring the poison, and you’ll pay the price.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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