October 17, 2007

ICE arrests man on ferry for attempting to conceal cash in vehicle

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents arrested a man who attempted to leave the Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, port-of-entry without declaring excess currency in the amount of more than $500,000.

William Manulfi Perez-Feliz, 32, who was traveling to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in a vehicle onboard the Caribbean Express ferry informed U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspectors at pre-clearance that he was traveling with $500. Further inspection of Perez-Feliz' vehicle revealed that he had approximately $543,801 concealed in different parts of his vehicle. Perez-Feliz has been charged with bulk cash smuggling and failure to declare an amount of money exceeding $10,000.

"Those who violate the immigration and customs laws of this country will be held accountable for their actions", said Roberto Escobar Vargas, acting Special Agent in Charge of ICE investigations in Puerto Rico. "This man demonstrated a blatant disregard for the laws of this country and will now have to explain his actions before a court of law."

Perez-Feliz was transferred to the Guaynabo Metropolitan Detention Center awaiting the outcome of his case.

The U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico has accepted the case for prosecution. The ICE investigation into this case is ongoing. Perez-Feliz is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

If convicted, Perez-Feliz faces a sentence of up to five years in prison. In addition, the court imposing the sentence shall order that the defendant forfeit to the United States any property traceable to the crime.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

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