Police nab illegal immigrant (Standard Speaker)

Police nab illegal immigrant
Published: July 28, 2010
- Tom Ragan

An alleged illegal immigrant was caught after Beaver Meadows' police chief said he stopped a driver for speeding and driving recklessly on Route 93 in the borough Monday.

Chief Michael Morresi said he made the stop at 1:30 p.m. after observing the driver almost hit a yield-to-pedestrian sign on Route 93. The car had a New York license plate.

Morresi asked for the driver's license; the driver handed over a passport dated 2001 which showed he was from Argentina. Only the passenger had a valid driver's license.

After finding no results in a police database search, Morresi called Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who suggested that Morresi take the driver, identified as 46-year-old Pablo Curatola of Argentina, to state police at Hazleton.

ICE agents conducted an interview with Curatola and learned he is in the United States illegally for nine years and was charged in the past for forging documents, Morresi said.

Beaver Meadows police cited Curatola for speeding and driving without a valid license. He was transported to the Lackawanna County prison for deportation back to Argentina by ICE agents. The Scranton facility is the closest one approved for deportation by ICE, Morresi said.

The owner of the vehicle that Curatola was driving was identified as Manuel Montesdeoca of Haverstraw, N.Y., Morresi said. Montesdeoca was cited for allowing Curatola to drive his vehicle without a valid driver's license.