ICE, police arrest 3 more (The News-Times)

ICE, police arrest 3 more

Previously deported immigrant faces gun charge; Danbury pair charged after raid on alleged black market house

By Eugene Driscoll Staff Writer

Article Last Updated: 03/15/2008 04:40:41 AM EDT

DANBURY -- Agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement were involved in three arrests Thursday, bringing to 10 the total number of people detained this week by federal authorities.

Thursday's arrests -- announced Friday by the Danbury Police Department -- involved two separate investigations by the department's Special Investigations Division.

Weapon charge

Police stopped a car on Main Street about 3:25 p.m. Thursday being driven by Nilander Oliveria, 29, of Shelton.

It wasn't a random stop, as detectives had received information about Oliveria, a "previously deported person," according to a statement from police. They said detectives double-checked his status with ICE agents before making the stop.

Police declined to elaborate on the initial information they received.

A search of Oliveria's vehicle allegedly turned up a .357-caliber handgun in the car's console.

Oliveira was charged with criminal possession of a pistol and having a weapon in a motor vehicle.

ICE charged him with immigration violations and put a detainer on him, which means he will be put into deportation proceedings after his local case is resolved.

Oliveira has previous convictions in Danbury Superior Court for creating a public disturbance and second-degree criminal mischief.

He received a $75 fine for the public disturbance case, which occurred in 2001.

He received a six-month suspended sentence and a year of probation for the criminal mischief conviction.

When he was first deported is not known.

Black market booze?

ICE agents and Danbury detectives then executed a search warrant at a multi-family house on South Avenue about 6 p.m. Thursday.

ICE agents were brought along because Danbury police had received information about "the possibility of undocumented aliens" at the location, according to a statement from police.

Part of the house was being used as a black market for cigarettes and alcohol, police alleged.

Jose Antonio Leon-Lojano, 40, of South Avenue, was charged by Danbury police with dispensing liquor without a permit, sale of unstamped cigarettes and unlicensed sale of cigarettes.

Julia Mendieta-Abad, 50, also of South Avenue, was charged with dispensing liquor without a permit.

Both were released on $250 bail pending a future court date. They were also given notices to report to immigration offices in Hartford to verify their immigration status, police said.

"We had developed information that people could go there and buy cigarettes and buy liquor," police Det. Capt. Mitchell Weston said.

Police seized about six cartons of cigarettes, 10 cases of beer and assorted containers of liquor. Police also seized a small amount of cash.

The cigarettes did not have tax stamps affixed and are thought to be from another country, police said.

"They were Marlboros, but the ATF is tracing where they came from," Mitchell said.

Two other people from the house were detained by ICE agents for immigration violations, according to police. The names of the second set of suspects were not released.

The arrests come after ICE agents picked up seven alleged illegal immigrants Tuesday at the state adult probation office on Main Street. They will also be placed in deportation proceedings.

In February, the Common Council gave Danbury Police Chief Al Baker the authority to enter into an agreement with ICE that would allow some detectives to enforce immigration law.

The agreement was met with stiff opposition from area civil rights leaders and immigrant activists who do not want municipalities to act on an issue the federal government should be addressing.

The ICE agreement has not been signed, but undocumented and legal immigrants have reportedly been leaving the city in droves in reaction.

Activists have been trying to get the names of the people detained at the probation office so they can assist with their cases. ICE declined to release their names earlier this week.

Many in the immigrant community said ICE's presence in the city has led to a culture of fear.

"I'm not questioning the right of ICE to do what ICE is doing," said Wilson Hernandez, vice president of the Ecuadorian Civic Center. "I'm just concerned about the trust that Chief Baker was trying to build up with the community. We need to get some more information about everything."

Staff writer Ethan Fry contributed to this story.

Contact Eugene Driscoll

at edriscoll@newstimes.com

or at (203) 731-3332