Salvadoran Man Previously Deported on Eight Separate Occasions Sentenced for Illegal Reentry

Press Release

Defendant currently serving state prison sentence for aggravated rape, kidnapping and witness intimidation

BOSTON - A Salvadoran man was sentenced today for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.

Melvin Alexander Orellana-Martinez, 54, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 60 months in prison. His sentence will be served concurrently with a 17-21 year state sentence he is currently serving in Massachusetts for several offenses, including multiple counts of aggravated rape, kidnapping and witness intimidation. In April 2024, Orellana-Martinez pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien.

On eight separate occasions between July 2007 and January 2020, Orellana-Martinez was removed from the United States. Between February 2008 and March 2019, Orellana-Martinez was convicted in California and Texas federal courts on five separate occasions of either illegal reentry or improper entry.

Orellana-Martinez was last deported from the United States on Jan. 14, 2020. Sometime after his January 2020 removal, Orellana-Martinez unlawfully reentered the United States. On Jan. 6, 2023, federal immigration authorities were notified that Orellana-Martinez had unlawfully reentered the United States after he was arrested on other unrelated state charges.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Todd M. Lyons, Boston's Field Office Director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

Updated September 11, 2024