Federal Agents Arrest Six Romanians on St. Thomas Following Tip on Illegal Reentry

ST. THOMAS — Federal law enforcement officials arrested six Romanian nationals on St. Thomas after receiving information that a group of individuals who had previously been deported had illegally re-entered the United States. According to authorities, the information was received on December 11, prompting agents with Homeland Security Investigations to conduct surveillance at a residence in Contant where the individuals were believed to be staying. Later that afternoon, agents followed two men who left the residence and made contact with them after they visited the Nisky Center. The men were identified as Puiu Lacatus and Tiberiu-Ilie Rostas, both Romanian nationals who reportedly admitted they were in the United States illegally. Investigators said Lacatus had previously been deported twice, in 2019 and again in 2024. He told agents that he flew from Paris to St. Maarten in November, then traveled by boat to Tortola in the British Virgin Islands before taking a ferry to St. Thomas. ...