Dominican National Charged with Illegally Reentering U.S.

David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ANEL DEL CARMEN ZAPATA POLANCO, also known as Anel Polanco, Anel Zapata Delcarme, and Anel Zapata, 42, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with illegally reentering the United States after being deported.

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in February 2006, Zapata, under the name Anel Zapata Delcarme, was convicted in New York County Criminal Court of possession of a forged instrument third degree. He was sentenced to time served for the offense. In January 2016, Zapata, again under the name Anel Zapata Delcarme, was convicted in the U.S. District Court of the District of New Jersey of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin. He was sentenced to 57 months of imprisonment for the offense. On September 19, 2017, Zapata was removed to the Dominican Republic.

It is further alleged that Zapata illegally reentered the U.S. On February 11, 2026, Zapata, under the name Anel Zapata, was convicted in Connecticut Superior Court in New Haven of drug and firearm offenses and sentenced to 10 years of incarceration, execution suspended after three years. On February 24, 2026, Zapata was convicted in Connecticut Superior Court in Middletown of firearm possession and threatening offenses and sentenced to six years of incarceration, execution suspended after two years.

Zapata was arrested after he was released from state prison today. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. Richardson in Hartford and was ordered detained.

If convicted of the charge of unlawful reentry, Zapata faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.