January 3rd 2025.
A state senator is speaking out about the recent case of an illegal immigrant who was evicted from a shelter program in Revere after being arrested for possession of an AR-15 rifle and $1 million worth of fentanyl. Senator Ryan Fattman, a Republican from Sutton, believes that the court records should be made public in order to shed light on the situation and inform the public about where their tax dollars are going.
Fattman stated, "If there's anything I can do to make a difference, it's demanding that the documents in this case be made public. The public has a right to know what they're funding." The individual in question, Leonardo Andujar Sanchez, a 28-year-old Dominican resident, was arrested by Revere Police on December 27 and charged with 11 counts, including possession of firearms and a large quantity of fentanyl.
He was arraigned on December 30 and deemed dangerous, leading to his incarceration until the end of April. However, the only information available to the public is a list of his charges. There is no access to a criminal complaint or police report, as they have been sealed by Judge Jane Prince. The Revere Police Department has been given 10 days to comply with a request for the police report.
Sanchez and his family have been residing at the Revere emergency assistance shelter since October 15, according to the Executive Office of Housing & Livable Communities. The office conducts warrant checks every 30 days and all residents undergo background checks upon applying for the shelter, according to EOHLC spokesman Noah Bombard. The Quality Inn shelter in Revere also has on-site security at all times.
However, this raises questions about how Sanchez was able to have firearms and fentanyl in his possession without being detected during these checks. It was also revealed that Sanchez has hired a private attorney, which is an unexpected luxury for a resident of the Massachusetts emergency assistance shelter program.
Bombard stated that immediate action was taken to remove Sanchez from the program and that a detainer has been lodged with federal immigration officials. The emergency shelter program has strict eligibility requirements, with applicants needing to be within 115% of the federal poverty guidelines. Attorneys in Massachusetts charge an average hourly rate of $285, according to a recent analysis.
The charges against Sanchez allege that he was found with nearly five kilograms of fentanyl, which has a street value of $150 to $200 per gram. This means he had around $750,000 to $1 million worth of the drug in his possession. Fattman noted that the state has spent approximately $2.5 billion on the emergency shelter program since its inception, with a monthly cost of $75 million.
He added, "And that's just what we know about – that's the money that is reported to be spent." Fattman believes that this issue should be addressed by voters through a ballot petition, in light of the recent election where over 70% voted in favor of allowing the State Auditor to audit the Legislature. He believes that this shows a desire for transparency and accountability in how public money is being used.
Fattman also mentioned various instances of crime occurring within the emergency shelter program, such as a kitchen fire in his district and child rape cases in other areas. He stated, "The free-for-all that is the right to shelter needs to be reformed." He described the charges against Sanchez as "sickening" and "outrageous."
In response to the situation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston stated that they helped identify Sanchez and that he faces deportation. ERO Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia Hyde stated, "Mr. Andujar has been accused of serious crimes, and ERO Boston takes its public safety mission very seriously – which is why we've lodged an immigration detainer against him." It was also revealed that Sanchez had unlawfully entered the U.S. within the past year.
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