Romanian National Sentenced for Illegal Re-Entry

St. Thomas, VI - United States Attorney Adam F. Sleeper of the District of the Virgin Islands announced today that Puiu Lacatus, 37, of Romania, was sentenced on Friday, June 12, 2026, by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Robert A. Molloy to time served-after having been detained for six months and one day-for illegally entering the United States after having been previously removed.

According to court documents, on December 11, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents received a tip regarding a group of illegal immigrants staying at a residence in Estate Contant. HSI agents responded to the residence in Contant to conduct surveillance and observed the defendant leave and walk towards Nisky Center. Federal agents announced themselves as "Immigration" and inquired into his nationality and whether he had status to be in the United States legally. The defendant stated that he was Romanian and did not have status to be in the United States. Agents performed further records checks that revealed that the defendant had previously been deported twice.

Agents confirmed with the Department of Homeland Security that there was no record found indicating that the defendant obtained consent from the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to return to the United States, and that he was a citizen of Romania.

The case was investigated by HSI with assistance from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

It was prosecuted by Criminal Chief Kyle Payne of the United States Attorney's Office for the District of the Virgin Islands.