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October 29, 2010

Dominican national charged with identity theft and illegal re-entry

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - A Dominican native who was deported in December 2009 after having been convicted of drug trafficking pleaded not guilty Friday in U.S. District Court in Providence to charges of identity theft and falsely representing his citizenship at the Rhode Island Registry of Motor Vehicles. Odelin Enrique Medrano, 28, was also charged in a five count indictment with intentionally making false statements to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in an attempt to conceal his identity, and illegal re-entry into the United States. Medrano was ordered detained by U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Lincoln D. Almond.

The indictment and arraignment were announced by U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha; Bruce M. Foucart, Special Agent in Charge of the ICE Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Boston; and Rhode Island State Police Superintendent Colonel Brendan P. Doherty.

 According to information presented to the Court during Friday's arraignment hearing by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zechariah Chafee, Medrano was arrested by the Rhode Island State Police on Sept. 15, 2010 after he allegedly attempted to obtain an identification card at the Registry of Motor Vehicles using a Puerto Rican birth certificate bearing the name of a different individual and a counterfeit social security card.

The Rhode Island State Fusion Center assisted in the investigation through the use of facial recognition software that determined that Medrano had been previously issued a Massachusetts identity document in his real name. A Rhode Island State Police Detective who assisted in the investigation is one of four State Police Detectives who have completed training and have been delegated immigration enforcement authority under ICE's 287(g) program. Warwick Police also provided forensic assistance in this investigation.

Medrano has been in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his initial appearance in U.S. District Court on October 18.

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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.

ICE is a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit www.ICE.gov. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423 or complete our tip form.