Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Haitian National Charged with Illegal Reentry

 BOSTON – A Haitian national previously residing in Boston was arrested and charged in federal court in Boston with illegal reentry.

Friendly Grandoit, 42, was arrested on March 19, 2021 and charged with one count of illegal re-entry into the United States after deportation. Grandoit was detained following an initial appearance before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Marianne B. Bowler.

According to charging documents, in 2005, Grandoit was encountered in pre-trial detention by immigration officials while pending trial on drug distribution charges in Middlesex County. Grandoit was convicted in Sept. 2006 of trafficking in a controlled substance and sentenced to three years in prison. Upon completion of his sentence, Grandoit was placed into removal proceedings and deported to Haiti in July 2008.

Sometime after his removal, Grandoit illegally reentered the United States. In Sept. 2019, Grandoit was arrested and charged in Woburn District Court with distribution of cocaine, identity fraud and operating with a suspended license and was detained. In April 2020, Grandoit posted bail and was released from custody. ICE, who had filed a detainer with the jail, was not notified. On March 19, 2021, Grandoit was arrested in this case.

The charge of illegal reentry provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Todd M. Lyons, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Mendell’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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