Two illegal immigrants, one accused of rape and the other fentanyl trafficking, have been grabbed by the feds — with the Trump administration’s new U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts prosecuting one of the border crossers.
Santo Baez Baez, 36 or 37, a native of the Dominican Republic living in Lawrence, was arrested at least twice on the same criminal case in which he’s charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and packing a .357 Magnum to run his drug ring, records state.
When Baez was first rung up on the charges in June of 2023, prosecutor Leah Foley was assigned to the case. Earlier this month, the acting U.S. attorney general promoted her to U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts — but this case hadn’t quite concluded so she was once again a courtroom prosecutor on Friday.
An undercover DEA agent helped break up the suspect’s fentanyl-and-cocaine ring, which Baez is accused of orchestrating out of his apartment in Lawrence, according to a federal affidavit. Drugs, a .357 Magnum, $7,885 in cash, and cell phones were confiscated during his arrest.
Meanwhile Friday, an illegal immigrant charged with rape in Revere is the latest “worst of the worst” immigration officials have arrested.
Garcia-Salmeron is also a border bandit who first crossed illegally in 2007 when an immigration judge ordered him deported to his native El Salvador. But, he somehow slipped away until Revere police arrested him on the rape charge and he was arraigned last July in Chelsea District Court.
Boston ERO said Friday Garcia-Salmeron was set free after Chelsea District Court “ignored ERO Boston’s immigration detainer and released Garcia from custody July 26,” immigration officials said.
“Jose Garcia-Salmeron is charged with victimizing one of our Massachusetts residents and represents a significant threat to the safety of Massachusetts neighborhoods,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “We will not tolerate such threats to our neighbors. ERO Boston will continue to prioritize public safety by targeting, arresting, and removing any illegally present individuals who present such a threat to our New England communities.”
The Suffolk DA charged Garcia-Salmeron with rape this past summer and he posted $75,000 cash bail, records state.
He was ordered to surrender his passport and stay away from the alleged victim and undergo “random” drug and alcohol screenings. He was fitted with a GPS device and was ordered to stay in the Bay State.
ERO Boston said Friday they have him in their custody.
These cases are part of the Trump administration quickly moved on its promise of mass deportations of criminals here illegally and hit Boston on only the second day. The arrests continue, with Salvadoran national Jose Garcia-Salmeron, 34 — who is charged with raping a woman in Revere — picked up by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement removal agents just days ago.
Developing…