Biden-Released Illegal Convicted in Counterfeit Drug Death of Veteran
An illegal alien convicted of running a counterfeit pharmaceutical ring that killed a U.S. Army veteran was released into the country under Biden administration catch-and-release policies after crossing the border.
Edward Eustate Jimenez, an illegal alien from the Dominican Republic, was found guilty by a New York jury alongside Dominican national Francisco Alberto Lopez Reyes for operating a nationwide scheme that sold fake pharmaceuticals through online platforms to unsuspecting American consumers, according to Breitbart News.
The counterfeit drugs were marketed as legitimate prescription medications but were frequently laced with fentanyl, the synthetic opioid responsible for tens of thousands of American overdose deaths annually.
U.S. Army Veteran Among the Victims
The deadly operation claimed at least one life—a 45-year-old U.S. Army veteran who believed she was purchasing legitimate prescription oxycodone from the fraudulent online pharmacy. She died after ingesting the fentanyl-laced pills.
Lauren Bis, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, condemned the operation. These criminals ran a deadly scheme to sell millions of counterfeit pharmaceutical pills, Bis stated, adding that under President Trump and Secretary Mullin, DHS will continue cracking down on drug trafficking and prosecuting those who profit from flooding the country with poison.
Released Under Biden Border Policy
Jimenez initially entered the United States as a so-called got-away, meaning he crossed the southern border undetected by authorities. In December 2022, Border Patrol agents encountered him in Arizona, as Breitbart News reports.
Rather than being detained or removed, Jimenez was released into the American interior under the expansive catch-and-release framework implemented by then-President Joe Biden and DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. That policy resulted in millions of illegal aliens being released into U.S. communities over the course of the administration.
Jimenez was convicted of conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death and distributing narcotics.
Co-Conspirator Extradited from Dominican Republic
Reyes, who orchestrated much of the criminal enterprise from the Dominican Republic, was found guilty on multiple counts including serving as a principal administrator of a continuing criminal enterprise, conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death, narcotics distribution, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
He was extradited to the United States in October 2024 to stand trial.
Bis praised federal immigration enforcement efforts, stating that the conviction demonstrates the commitment of ICE law enforcement personnel to bringing criminal aliens to justice.
With information from Breitbart News
