An illegal immigrant from the Dominican Republican staying at a temporary shelter in Massachusetts is facing 10 firearms-related charges as well as a charge of possessing nearly 5 kilograms of fentanyl with an estimated street value of $1 million.
Leonardo Andujar Sanchez, 28, was arraigned Thursday at Chelsea District Court on 10 firearms-related charges related to the possession of an AR-15-style rifle and another charge for trafficking in 200 grams or more of heroin/morphine/opium/fentanyl, the Boston Herald reported.
The criminal complaint showed Sanchez allegedly possessed 4,995 grams of fentanyl, the Herald reported. The firearms charges included unlicensed possession of an "assault weapon," illegal possession, lack of a Firearms Identification Card, possession of a large-capacity feeding device, and "alien" in possession of a firearm.
What isn't clear is when the arrest was made and other details, the Herald reported, because District Judge Jane D. Price on Thursday ordered nearly all court documents impounded. She found Sanchez dangerous and jailed him without bail.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were present during Thursday's hearing. A federal source told the Herald that the agency has a detainer on Sanchez.
WFXT-TV in Boston reported a search warrant led investigators to find the fentanyl, plus cocaine, bricks, and smaller amounts of drugs packaged for sale inside the room on the third floor of a Quality Inn in Revere, Massachusetts. The hotel is closed to the public and was being used as a temporary migrant shelter, multiple sources confirmed to the Herald.
Sanchez's privately retained attorney, John Benzan, confirmed to the Herald that his client is from the Dominican Republic but did not know or did not say how long he has been staying at the shelter. He said the charges are "just allegations at this point and we are going to fight this case tooth and nail, and we are going to hold the Commonwealth to the standard that they have to prove every element of every charge to a reasonable doubt."
"Until then," he added, "they are just blanket allegations and assertions."
Democrat Gov. Maura Healey has been highly criticized for the state's right-to-shelter law and use of motels as extended housing for migrants. Also, sanctuary cities in the state have vowed not to work with immigration officials in the incoming Trump administration.
The state Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities said it evicted Sanchez from the Quality Inn.
"There is zero tolerance for criminal activity in EA shelters," a spokesman for the agency told the Herald. "We took immediate action to terminate this individual from the EA system, and we confirmed with federal immigration officials that they have lodged a detainer. We're grateful to the Revere Police Department and Suffolk County District Attorney's Office for their swift response."
Some neighbors who live behind the Quality Inn told WFXT-TV they signed a petition because of safety concerns to stop the hotel from turning into an emergency shelter. A father of a 1-year-old said he has been thinking about moving because of late-night activity and believes Sanchez's arrest validates his family's concerns.
The Quality Inn is among 128 hotels and motels that have been used as emergency shelters across the state since September 2022, according to WFXT.
Michael Katz ✉
Michael Katz is a Newsmax reporter with more than 30 years of experience reporting and editing on news, culture, and politics.
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