ST. THOMAS — A man is facing charges of illegally re-entering the United States after being deported in 2022.

According to court documents, on May 24 a multi-agency federal law enforcement team was conducting a surveillance operation around Prindsen Gade. They spotted Tommy Ramirez driving a grey Toyota Yaris and followed him to the Pueblo supermarket on Rumer Drive.

They waited while he went into the supermarket, and approached him when he came out about fifteen minutes later. With no identification on him, Ramirez reportedly first gave his name as “Michael”. After being taken into custody, he was asked his name again and reportedly replied “Tommy".

Ramirez, a citizen and national of the Dominican Republic, was positively identified via fingerprints. His criminal record includes a 2018 conviction for conspiracy to traffic cocaine and one in 2022 on similar charges. In January 2022, he was sentenced to 33 months in prison, but was deported to the Dominican Republic three months later.

On Sunday, Ramirez was charged with illegally re-entering the United States. He awaits a hearing before Magistrate Alan Teague.