A Brazilian national residing in Framingham has admitted guilt in a federal court in Boston for illegally reentering the United States after deportation. Rafael De Jesus-Ribeiro, 39, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. The sentencing is scheduled by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani for June 9, 2025.
De Jesus-Ribeiro was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2025. According to the indictment, he was deported from the United States on July 17, 2019, after crossing the border illegally in Texas and initially providing false documentation to Border Patrol. After his removal in July 2019, De Jesus-Ribeiro reentered the country without permission.
The charge carries a potential sentence of up to two years in prison, one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Following any imposed sentence, De Jesus-Ribeiro will be subject to deportation proceedings. Sentences are determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Leah Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director for Boston's U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric L. Hawkins from the Major Crimes Unit is handling the prosecution.
