June 21, 2007

Dominican citizen attempting to conceal $25K arrested in Puerto Rico by ICE

MAYAGUEZ, Puerto Rico— A 39-year-old Dominican citizen who attempted to leave the Mayaguez Seaport without declaring excess currency in the amount of approximately $25,000 was arrested here Wednesday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents.

ICE worked jointly with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to identify Maria Elena Jimenez who attempted to circumvent U.S. laws by lying to CBP inspectors. Jimenez, who was traveling from Mayaguez to the Dominican Republic, informed CBP inspectors at pre-clearance that she only had $3,000 to declare.

Further inspection revealed that Jimenez was traveling with approximately $25,000 concealed in her luggage.

ICE special agents charged Jimenez for failure to report U.S. currency in excess of $10,000 in violation of Title 31, United States Code (USC), Section 5316. The case has been accepted for prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico.

“Those who think that they can circumvent our laws undetected must think twice,” said Manuel Oyola Torres, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Puerto Rico.  “ICE and CBP will continue working as a team to identify and arrest those who attempt to break our laws.”

Jimenez is in U.S. Marshal’s custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico awaiting the outcome of her case. 

The ICE investigation into this case is ongoing.  The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

-- 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.

  Last Modified: