US authorities nab Jamaican nationals with criminal convictions

HARTFORD, Jan 17, CMC - The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency says it has arrested two Jamaican national convicted of criminal offenses in the United States and, including one wanted in his homeland.

ICE said they had arrested Sanjay Sivan Walsh, 28, convicted of sexually assaulting two children and tampering with evidence, on December17.

"Mr. Walsh was convicted of committing unspeakable crimes against two children, and he was sentenced to prison for it," said ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston acting Field Office Director, Patricia H. Hyde.

"ERO Boston lodged an immigration detainer against him so our officers could safely arrest him upon his release, but the Connecticut Department of Corrections officials refused to honour the detainer.

"Our officers had to arrest Mr. Walsh in the community after his release from prison, even though he was convicted of terrible crimes against children and is removable from the US based on his convictions," Hyde added.

ICE said the State of Connecticut Superior Court convicted Walsh of two counts of second-degree sexual assault and conspiracy to tamper with evidence on June 14, 2023, sentencing him to 10 years in prison, suspending all but the year and nine months he had already served.

The court also required Walsh to register as a sex offender for 10 years following his release, ICE said.

It said also that ERO Boston officers in Hartford arrested 30-year-old Jamaican Leroy Neville White on December 26.

ICE said White, also Kevin White, is the subject of an Interpol Red Notice for shooting with inten and that he had been convicted in the United States of first-degree threatening with intent to terrorise and carrying a pistol without a permit.

"ERO Boston lodged an immigration detainer against Mr. White when police initially arrested him on felony charges. He's also wanted in Jamaica for shooting with intent -- a very serious crime.

"On December 26, our officers arrested him in the correctional facility's safe, controlled environment," Hyde said, adding "we're always grateful when local police and courts honour our immigration detainers; they help keep our officers, the public and noncitizens safe."

ICE said Interpol issues Red Notices to alert police in member countries about internationally-wanted fugitives and that White had unlawfully entered the US on July 11, 2022.

A US Department of Justice immigration judge with the Executive Office for Immigration Review had ordered White removed to Jamaica on April 12, 2023 after Jamaican authorities had issued an arrest warrant for him on August 11, 2023, alleging he committed offense of shooting with intent.

IE said White will remain in its custody pending his removal from the United States.

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