A federal grand jury indicted Yasser Rivera-Reyes, a 42-year-old Cuban citizen with ties to Miami, Florida, on May 7 for unlawfully reentering the United States after being previously removed. Rivera-Reyes was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol agents on April 24 in Derby, Vermont and later entered a plea of not guilty during an arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle.
According to court records, agents responded to alerts indicating that someone had crossed into the United States from Canada near a bike path in Derby around 10 p.m. Rivera-Reyes was found wearing clothing and carrying a backpack matching imagery obtained near the border. He had been ordered removed from the country in 2017 while incarcerated in the Federal Bureau of Prisons. A search revealed items suggesting he had been living in Canada, including a Quebec driver’s license issued in September 2025 and receipts dated April 2026 from Charlemagne, Quebec.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office stated that “an indictment contains allegations only and that Rivera-Reyes is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.” If convicted, Rivera-Reyes faces up to two years of imprisonment; however, any sentence would be determined by the District Court with guidance from advisory sentencing guidelines and statutory factors.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt said he commended the investigatory efforts of the U.S. Border Patrol. The prosecutor assigned is Special Assistant United States Attorney Craig Nolan; Rivera-Reyes is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America—a national initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and criminal organizations.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont enforces federal laws—including criminal prosecutions—and manages civil cases for the government while partnering with law enforcement agencies to enhance public safety across Vermont through offices located in Burlington and Rutland, according to the official website.
