Virginia Basora-Gonzalez/Dominican Republic/Fentanyl Distribution

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Virginia Basora-Gonzalez, a 36-year-old citizen of the Dominican Republic, in Philadelphia during a joint operation with the U.S. Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on March 12.

Basora-Gonzalez has prior convictions for attempted possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and aiding and abetting. She was previously removed from the U.S. and reentered the country illegally.

“The apprehension of Virginia Basora-Gonzalez demonstrates our commitment to protecting our communities from criminal aliens who engage in serious illegal activities that pose a threat to public safety,” ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Philadelphia acting Field Office Director Brian McShane said after the arrest.

“This successful joint operation exemplifies the collaborative efforts of federal law enforcement agencies to enforce our nation’s immigration laws and remove dangerous individuals from our streets.”

The Drug Enforcement Administration arrested and charged Basora-Gonzalez in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania with attempted possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and aiding and abetting on June 6, 2019 and plead guilty. Basora-Gonzalez was sentenced to 12 months and one day confinement and four years of supervised release March 12, 2020.

ICE deported Basora-Gonzalez from the United States to the Dominican Republic in 2020, but she returned illegally on an unknown date.

ICE issued Basora-Gonzalez a notice of intent to reinstate final order of removal March 12 and on the same day obtained a federal arrest warrant and criminal complaint from a U.S. magistrate judge and turned her over to the U.S. Marshals Service. She will remain in federal custody pending charges for reentry after deportation in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.