Nikolas Kerest U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont
Burlington, Vermont – An Ecuadorian man, Alex Patin-Patin, 28, has been charged with being unlawfully present in the United States after having been previously removed by immigration officials. The announcement was made by the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont following an arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle on February 5, 2025. Patin-Patin pleaded not guilty to the indictment.
During a detention hearing on February 6, 2025, Judge Doyle ordered that Patin-Patin be detained while the case is pending. Court records reveal that Patin-Patin initially entered the U.S. unlawfully around February 2022 and was subsequently removed in July 2022 by federal authorities. Details about his re-entry remain unclear; however, he was arrested in South Burlington, Vermont, in April 2024 on charges including aggravated domestic assault.
The federal grand jury indicted Patin-Patin for this offense in October 2024, leading to a federal warrant for his arrest. His recent arrest followed surveillance indicating non-compliance with address conditions set by the Vermont Superior Court related to his state domestic assault prosecution.
The United States Attorney’s Office highlighted that an indictment contains only allegations and stressed that Patin-Patin is presumed innocent until proven guilty. If convicted, he faces up to two years' imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing would be determined by the District Court based on advisory guidelines and statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher praised several agencies for their collaborative efforts in investigating this case: "the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Enforcement and Removal Operations," "Homeland Security Investigations," "the Drug Enforcement Administration," "the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives," "the Federal Bureau of Investigation," and "the United States Marshals Service."
Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Lasher and Michelle Arra are prosecuting the case. The Office of the Federal Public Defender represents Patin-Patin.
