In Massachusetts, a judge helped an illegal escape from the Immigration Control Service

A judge and bailiff from Massachusetts is accused of assisting illegal immigrants. A federal grand jury indicted on Thursday, April 25.

Фото: Depositphotos

Newton District Court Judge Shelley Joseph and the bailiff, who was listed as Wesley McGregor in the court documents, were severally charged with the 2 incident of April 2018, when the couple helped José Medina-Peres to get out of the courthouse through the back door to escape ICE agent.

“This is a case about the rule of law. The charges include obstruction of a sitting judge, which is considered to be intentional interference with the administration of federal law and is a crime,” U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts Andrew Lelling said Thursday.

Joseph and McGregor are charged with obstructing justice, assisting and abetting. McGregor is also accused of giving false testimony before the federal grand jury.

“As public servants, all bailiffs make a promise—a promise to serve the interests of the people above all else. Today we know that promise was broken,” said Peter Fitzhugh, the special agent in charge of the investigation.

Medina-Perez, a twice-deported illegal immigrant with a warrant for drunk driving in Pennsylvania, was in the Joseph courtroom, where he was to be held accountable for drugs.

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José Medina-Perez was under the gun of ICE agents who were waiting for him in the courtroom for further detention after being charged. But during the hearing, Joseph asked lawyer Medina Perez if ICE agents were interested in them. According to the court records, the lawyer replied: “ICE agents will arrest him if he leaves through the front door of the court. But I think the best thing we can do is let him go, and I hope he can avoid meeting with the agents. This is the best I can do. ”

“What if we detain him?” the judge asked before asking the clerk to turn off the courtroom audio recorder, leaving the next 58 seconds without recording.

A few minutes later, attorney Medina-Perez said that his client needed to talk to a translator.

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McGregor then used her access card to escort Medina-Perez from the courthouse, bypassing ICE agents.

The ICE agent continued to wait in the lobby, not knowing that the illegal immigrant had already left the building, Lelling said, adding that Joseph had lied about the incident to his superiors when asked about it.

Joseph was named Newton County Judge as Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker in 2017, after several years as a criminal lawyer and prosecutor.

After reports of Joseph’s alleged interference appeared in December, Baker told reporters that she should be held for the duration of the investigation.

“I don’t believe she should try criminal cases until the federal case is resolved,” Baker said. - Look, judges shouldn't obstruct justice. And, as far as I can tell based on the facts presented, she clearly violated the court’s own policy.”

Medina-Perez did not long remain free. He was arrested a month after escaping from court and released again. This time on bail. His case is currently pending. According to ICE, 38-year-old native of the Dominican Republic was deported in January 2003 of the year and June of 2007 of the year.

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