A Dominican national living unlawfully in Lawrence has been sentenced in federal court for reentering the United States after being deported. Melvin Villar, 61, received a 10-month prison sentence and two years of supervised release from U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper. After serving his sentence, Villar will face deportation.
Villar pleaded guilty in June 2025 to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2025.
Authorities arrested Villar on February 2, 2025, after he was released from state custody where he had faced narcotics trafficking charges. According to officials, Villar had previously been removed from the country in 2004, 2009, 2019, and 2021 following convictions related to immigration violations, drug offenses, and firearm offenses. He also has two prior convictions for unlawful reentry.
“United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement.”
“Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Grady of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.”
