An Ecuadorian man who lives in Yarmouth is now in federal custody, after his indictment on June 10 for allegedly reentering the U.S after deportation, according to court records and the U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts
A federal grand jury indicted Jose Tomas Lema Pugo, 59, also known as Jose Luis Ledezma. He was arrested by immigration authorities on May 9 on a charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney.
Pugo was deported from the U.S. in November 2013, but when he returned is uncertain, according to the statement.
Allegation of driving under influence
Before he was deported in 2013, Pugo was charged in Barnstable District Court with driving under the influence and leaving an injured person at the scene of an accident in the town of Barnstable, according to court records. The arraignment date on the charges was July 5, 2013. The defendant failed to appear in court on Oct. 8, 2013. Five years later, Barnstable District Court records show Pugo was scheduled for a pretrial hearing on July 17, 2018. A judge’s hearing on Dec. 4, 2018, was held and bail was forfeited.
Now, in the case, Pugo’s next court date is a pre-trial hearing on July 21. He is currently being held at Plymouth House of Correction, in custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Allegation of driving with suspended license
Also in Barnstable District Court records, Pugo was charged with driving with a suspended license, refusing to identify himself and marked lane violations after a March 21 incident in Yarmouth, court records stated. He pleaded not guilty to all charges on March 24. He was ordered released without bail. His next court date is July 21.
ICE officials asked Barnstable County Correctional Facility on March 21 to detain Pugo, but the request was denied and he was later released, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Pugo is scheduled to appear in federal court on June 16 on the charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien, court records showed.
Desiree Nikfardjam is a reporter covering breaking and trending news. She graduated from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. You can reach her at DNikfardjam@gannett.com.
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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Yarmouth man held by ICE on unlawful reentry after deportation charge