This Caribbean Immigrant Could Spend The Rest Of His Life In Prison

News Americas, NEWBURGH, N.Y., Tues. April 10, 2018: A Caribbean immigrant who was twice removed from the US, only to return again illegally, could now spend the rest of his life in federal prison.

Jamaican national, Ronald Greenland, 55, was recently sentenced to 151 months in federal custody, with 100 months to run consecutively with his 40 year to life sentence on state charges, for the attempted murder of a police officer.

Greenland initially entered the United States lawfully in 1972 but lost that status due to multiple criminal convictions in Connecticut, Florida, and New York. On February 23, 2007, an immigration judge ordered Greenland deported to Jamaica. On February 26, 2009, ICE removed Greenland to Jamaica.

Ho, however, unlawfully reentered the U.S. at an unknown place, on an unknown date, following his deportation.

On April 21, 2011, Greenland was convicted in U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York (SDNY), and sentenced to 60 months incarceration, and three years of supervised release. On April 30, 2015, ICE removed Greenland to Jamaica, for the second time.  Greenland unlawfully reentered the U.S. again at an unknown place, on an unknown date, following his second removal.

On Dec. 9, 2016, ERO deportation officers assigned to the Newburgh, New York sub-office obtained a federal arrest warrant in SDNY, charging Greenland with illegal re-entry following removal from the United States.

On Oct. 25, 2017, Greenland was convicted of attempted murder, attempted assault, attempted aggravated assault upon a police officer, criminal possession of a weapon, and criminal possession of stolen property, in Westchester County Supreme Court, in White Plains, New York.

On Nov. 21, 2017, Greenland pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court, White Plains, New York to federal illegal reentry after removal following an aggravated felony conviction.

On Feb. 27, 2018, Greenland was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison on the New York state charges, in Westchester County Supreme Court and on March 28, 2018, Greenland was sentenced to 151 months in federal custody, with 100 months to run consecutively with his state conviction.

The sentencing follows an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

“Sentences like this one are a powerful reminder about the potential consequences that await those who blatantly skirt the nation’s immigration laws,” said ERO New York Field Office Director Thomas Decker. “Illegal aliens who knowingly break the law by re-entering the United States must be held accountable for their actions.”