Latest news with #Morales-Reyes
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Undocumented Wisconsin man framed in Trump threat released from custody
The Brief Ramón Morales-Reyes has been released from Dodge County Jail custody. The jail, which holds ICE detainees, confirmed his release on Thursday, June 12. He was allegedly framed for sending letters threatening President Donald Trump. JUNEAU, Wis. - An undocumented man that was allegedly framed for sending letters threatening President Donald Trump has been released from custody. What we know The Dodge County Jail, which holds ICE detainees, confirmed on Thursday, June 12, that Ramón Morales-Reyes is no longer in custody. On Tuesday, June 10, an immigration judge ruled Morales-Reyes did not pose a threat to the community. She had set his bond at $7,500. Morales-Reyes, a father of three, works as a dishwasher in Milwaukee. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android His family set up a GoFundMe to help with his legal bills and to help with the bond. It has since raised more than $10,000, surpassing the $7,500 cash bond. The backstory Back in May, the Wisconsin Attorney General's Office, the Milwaukee Police Chief and the Milwaukee ICE Office all received handwritten letters in the mail, per a criminal complaint. The return addresses were handwritten on the envelopes in blue ink. The name and address on each of the envelopes were correctly written for the immigrant, Morales-Reyes. The letters were all handwritten and, although not exactly the same, all wrote about immigration policy and threatening to kill ICE agents or President Donald Trump. Those letters also appeared to be written by the same person. Morales-Reyes was arrested by ICE in Milwaukee. Detectives interviewed him with the help of a translator, as he did not read, write, or speak fluent English. When asked if anyone would want him to get in trouble, he said that the only person who would want that would be the person who had robbed him and who law enforcement knows to be the defendant, Demetric Scott. Dig deeper Prosecutors said Scott admitted to writing the letter to frame Morales-Reyes, hoping he would be deported, and not able to testify against him. Scott has since been charged with the following: Felony Identity Theft (Harm reputation) Felony Intimidation of a Witness (By a person charged with a felony) Felony Bail Jumping (2 counts) What they're saying FOX6 later questioned Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin about Morales-Reyes remaining in custody, who replied: "While this criminal illegal alien is no longer under investigation for threats against the President, he is in the country illegally with previous arrests for felony hit and run, criminal damage to property, and disorderly conduct with domestic abuse. The Trump administration is committed to restoring the rule of law and fulfilling the President's mandate to deport illegal aliens. DHS will continue to fight for the arrest, detention, and removal of illegal aliens who have no right to be in this country." SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News In immigration court, the judge stated that the arrests happened in 1996, and he was only convicted of disorderly conduct. Local perspective Morales-Reyes' family posted his bond but they said they were not notified he would be released, so he sat there for around two hours. "I am feeling happy to be with my family. This was all a confusion and I was defamed," Morales-Reyes said. "It was difficult. Extremely difficult. I thank God. I will be taking some days to rest and see what happens next." His daughter Anna is pushing for the DHS to retract its statements regarding her father. "I just want to say for the DHS to please take down the false information about my dad, since they already know my dad wasn't the one who wrote the letter, if [it] can please be taken down and clear out his name," she said. Nonprofit Voces de la Frontera wants to see accountability from the Trump administration as they fight for Morales-Reyes to stay in the U.S. "The U-Visa would allow a path to lawful permanent residency as well as the fight, a separate which is his deportation defense and that is different issue, but the most immediate thing is the July 16 trial," Executive Director Voces De La Frontera Christine Neumann-Ortiz said. The Source The Dodge County Jail, Morales-Reyes' family and prior FOX6 News coverage contributed to this report.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jailed Wisconsin Man Fooled ICE Barbie With Forged Death Threats Against Trump
A Milwaukee man awaiting trial on criminal robbery charges had an interesting defense strategy: framing one of his victims for threatening to murder President Trump. On Monday, Demetric D. Scott, 42, who was already in jail on charges of armed robbery and aggravated battery, was charged with witness intimidation, identity theft, and bail jumping after police discovered he'd forged several letters threatening the president's life under the name of Ramón Morales-Reyes. Scott admitted to police that he'd forged the letters not because he had any interest in harming the president, but because he'd hoped they would lead to the deportation of Morales-Reyes, who was set to testify at his upcoming robbery trial. Scott was arrested in 2023 after being captured on a Ring camera stabbing Morales-Reyes with a corkscrew while attempting to steal his bike, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported. The phony letters already made national headlines when DHS Secretary Kristi Noem publicly celebrated the arrest of Morales-Reyes, despite police quickly expressing suspicion that the letters had been forged. According to Milwaukee police, on May 21, the offices of the Wisconsin Attorney General, Milwaukee Police Chief, and Milwaukee ICE headquarters each received handwritten letters signed in Morales-Reyes' name and with his home listed as the return address, containing threats against the president's life. The letters read in part, 'I will self deport myself back to Mexico, but not before I use my 30 yard 6 [rifle] to shoot your precious president in his head—I will see him at one of his big ralleys.' The following day, on May 22, police arrested Morales-Reyes, 54. He was quickly transferred into DHS custody due to his undocumented status. The arrest earned praise from Noem, who wrote, 'Thanks to our ICE officers, this illegal alien who threatened to assassinate President Trump is behind bars.' However, Milwaukee police weren't certain they had the right man. Not only did a handwriting test quickly reveal that Morales-Reyes' penmanship didn't match the letters, but they also discovered he is not fluent in English. When asked if someone may have a motive to frame him for the crime, Morales-Reyes mentioned his plans to testify against Scott. Upon further investigation, police discovered that Scott had made explicit plans to forge and mail the letters in recorded jail phone calls dating back nearly a month, NBC News reported. In one call, made five days before the letters were received, Scott said, 'This dude is a goddamn illegal immigrant and they just need to pick his ass up… if he gets picked up by ICE, there won't be a jury trial, so they will probably dismiss it that day. That's my plan.' Since his arrest, Scott has had a pattern of mischievous letter-writing. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, in an August 2024 letter to Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Kristy Yang, the judge presiding over his case, Scott had threatened to turn her courtroom 'into a circus,' adding, 'This case will never make it to jury trial.' After Morales-Reyes identified Scott as a suspect in the forgery, police searched his jail cell, finding a pen matching the ink used in the letters, an envelope, and a note Scott had written reminding himself to find out the address of the attorney general's office. Scott eventually confessed during police questioning on May 30. However, Morales-Reyes remains in ICE custody at Dodge County Jail in Juneau, Wisconsin, and is now facing removal proceedings. Responding to initial reports that the letters were forged, a senior official from the Department of Homeland Security told The Daily Beast last week that Morales-Reyes will remain in custody because he was 'determined to be in the country illegally and [has] a criminal record.' According to a DHS press release, Morales-Reyes has previously been arrested for felony hit and run, criminal damage to property, and disorderly conduct with a domestic abuse modifier. The press release also claimed Morales-Reyes entered the U.S. illegally nine times between 1998 and 2005. Morales-Reyes' attorney, Kime Abduli, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that because he is still a witness in Scott's robbery trial, which is set for July 14, Morales-Reyes is in the process of applying for a U-visa, which allows undocumented immigrants to remain in the country if they are testifying in a criminal case.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Undocumented Wisconsin man framed for Trump threat gets bond
The Brief Ramón Morales-Reyes remains in jail after falsely being accused of threatening President Donald Trump. An immigration judge ruled that Morales-Reyes does not pose a threat to the community. The judge set bond for him, which could lead to his release this week. MILWAUKEE - A judge has set bond for the undocumented man prosecutors say was framed in a threat against President Donald. Ramón Morales-Reyes is being held in the Dodge County Jail, but could be freed this week. What we know Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have held Morales-Reyes in jail for nearly three weeks. On Tuesday, June 10, an immigration judge ruled Morales-Reyes does not pose a threat to the community. She set bond at $7,500. "He will not get out today. The government reserved appeal, so they have one business day to decide whether to file the appeal or not. If they don't file by tomorrow, then the bond can be paid and he can get out," said Cain Oulahan, attorney for Morales-Reyes. Local perspective For the first time, we're hearing from his daughter, Anna. "I've always been my dad's little girl, who grew up with a hard-working dad that was always making sure his family has food on the table, having a roof over our heads. He loved to take us to the park every weekend and go for walks as family, quality time," Anna Morales said. "He works hard every day as a dishwasher to provide for his family, making sure we are safe, cared for and guided." "if he's taken from us, it wouldn't just be a financial loss, it would be an emotional one that we honestly don't know how to recover," she added. "My dad is a not a threat to anyone. He is a good man who got caught up in a terrible situation. Now that the truth has been proven, I ask from the bottom of my heart he gets the justice he deserves. We need him more than words can explain." FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android The backstory U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem accused him of writing a death threat against the president. Her social media post is still up. But, Wisconsin investigators say that's not true. Instead, they have charged Demetric Scott with the alleged hoax. Scott has been charged with: Felony Identity Theft (Harm reputation) Felony Intimidation of a Witness (By a person charged with a felony) Felony Bail Jumping (2 counts) His preliminary hearing on the charges was set for Tuesday, but it's been pushed back to June 23. Prosecutors say Scott admitted to writing the letter to frame Morales-Reyes, hoping he would be deported, and not able to testify against him. The criminal complaint goes on to state that Scott was arrested for, and charged with, the armed robbery and aggravated battery of Morales-Reyes in Milwaukee. Prosecutors say Scott stated he believed the letters were the simplest way to "get him off his back "and said he knew including a threat to Trump in the letters would mean that the Secret Service would have to get involved, and law enforcement would investigate. "It was very heartbreaking. It was heartbreaking to see my dad…that he would ever do such a thing," his daughter said. "Everyone who knows my dad knows he's not capable of writing something like that." SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News FOX6 questioned the Department of Homeland Security if Secretary Noem would retract her allegation, which is still online. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin did not answer that question, but instead wrote: "While this criminal illegal alien is no longer under investigation for threats against the President, he is in the country illegally with previous arrests for felony hit and run, criminal damage to property, and disorderly conduct with domestic abuse. The Trump administration is committed to restoring the rule of law and fulfilling the President's mandate to deport illegal aliens. DHS will continue to fight for the arrest, detention, and removal of illegal aliens who have no right to be in this country." In immigration court, the judge stated that the arrests happened in 1996, and he was only convicted of a disorderly conduct. What's next His family has set up a GoFundMe to help with his legal bills and to help with the bond to get the man who works as a dishwasher out of the Dodge County Jail. His attorneys are fighting to get him a special visa that the U.S. government gives to crime victims to help them come forward and help police. The Source The information in this post was collected and produced by FOX6 News.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Undocumented migrant framed for threatening Trump is eligible for release
A Mexican man facing deportation after being framed for sending a threatening letter to Donald Trump could be released in the coming days. A Chicago immigration judge ruled on Tuesday that Ramón Morales-Reyes, 54, was not a threat to the public and set his bond at $7,500. 'Today's decision gives us hope that he can be by our side again,' Morales-Reyes's daughter Ana said in a statement via the organization Voces de la Frontera. 'We are so grateful to the judge and to the community for supporting us.' The Department of Homeland Security insists the 54-year-old is still a threat. 'While this criminal illegal alien is no longer under investigation for threats against the President, he is in the country illegally with previous arrests for felony hit and run, criminal damage to property, and disorderly conduct with domestic abuse,' Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. The Independent has contacted Morales-Reyes's lawyer for further comment. Reyes was arrested in May in Wisconsin after initially being thought to be the author of letters containing threats to Donald Trump and immigration agents. 'We are tired of this president messing with us Mexicans – we have done more for this county than you whites – you have been deporting my family and now I think it is time Donald J. Trump get what he has coming to him,' the phony letter read. Homeland Security officials initially celebrated the arrest of Morales-Reyes, who they said was an 'illegal alien who threatened to assassinate President Trump,' while attorneys and family members of the man said the letter couldn't be valid since Morales-Reyes can't speak or write in English. Last week, Wisconsin man Demetric D. Scott admitted to writing the letters under the Mexican man's name, in the hopes of getting him deported to prevent his testimony in a robbery case, according to officials. In an interview with police in May, Scott 'admitted that he wrote everything on the letters' and 'believed the letters were the simplest way to get Morales-Reyes 'off his back,' according to court documents obtained by Wisconsin Public Radio. Scott was allegedly recorded on a call from a Milwaukee County jail detailing the scheme to frame the immigrant to prevent him from testifying about a 2023 robbery in which authorities say Morales-Reyes was the victim. '[I]f he gets picked up by ICE, there won't be a jury trial so they will probably dismiss it that day,' Scott said, per court records. Scott, 52, was charged earlier this month with identity theft, intimidating a witness and two counts of bail jumping over the alleged scheme. The charges add to previous allegations of armed robbery, aggravated battery, second-degree recklessly endangering safety and bail jumping over a 2023 incident in which he allegedly attacked Morales-Reyes with a corkscrew while he was riding a bicycle, leaving him with a lung abrasion. Scott insisted the bicycle had been stolen from him and Morales-Reyes had previously threatened him. DHS said in a statement that Morales-Reyes entered the U.S. unlawfully at least nine times between 1998 and 2005. The 54-year-old immigrant's family says he is in the process of seeking a U visa for survivors and witnesses of violent crime. If Morales-Reyes is unable to post bond, removal proceedings begin on July 10. Homeland Security can appeal the bond decision.
CNBC
10-06-2025
- Politics
- CNBC
Immigrant framed for Trump threats can be released on bond, judge says
The undocumented Mexican immigrant who was detained after being framed by a jailed inmate for threatening President Donald Trump can be released on a $7,500 bond, a Chicago Immigration Court judge ruled Tuesday morning. Judge Carla Espinoza said at a hearing that she does not believe Milwaukee resident Ramon Morales-Reyes is a danger to the community pending removal proceedings. The judge noted that although the 54-year-old Morales-Reyes has been arrested several times since 1996, he has only been convicted once, for disorderly conduct. An attorney representing the Department of Homeland Security did not oppose a request by the immigrant's lawyer, Cain Oulahan, requesting bond. Oulahan and Morales-Reyes appeared remotely, with the immigrant still detained in Dodge County Jail in Wisconsin. Espinoza said that if Morales-Reyes is unable to post bond, the next hearing in the case will be on July 10, and that she would set another date if the married dad of three is released. CNBC has requested comment from Oulahan. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, in a statement, said, "While this criminal illegal alien is no longer under investigation for threats against the President, he is in the country illegally with previous arrests for felony hit and run, criminal damage to property, and disorderly conduct with domestic abuse." "The Trump administration is committed to restoring the rule of law and fulfilling the President's mandate to deport illegal aliens. DHS will continue to fight for the arrest, detention, and removal of illegal aliens who have no right to be in this country," McLaughlin said. Morales-Reyes, who has lived in the United States since 1986, was arrested May 22 on suspicion that he had written three letters to law enforcement officers in Wisconsin that threatened Trump and others. A week later, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem touted Morales-Reyes' arrest in a news release that called the dishwasher an "illegal alien," and featured his photo, as well as an image of a handwritten letter threatening to shoot "your precious president" Trump. But Milwaukee police who questioned Morales-Reyes quickly realized there was a problem with the allegations against him, court records show. First, a handwriting sample Morales-Reyes provided was "completely different" from the writing on the letters and the envelopes, which bore his home address as the return address, a criminal complaint says. Also, Morales-Reyes does not speak, read, or write English fluently, while the writing in the letters was in English. When a police detective asked Morales-Reyes, "Who would want to get [him] in trouble, [he] stated that the only person who would want to get him in [trouble] was the person who had robbed him and who law enforcement knows to be the defendant, Demetric D. Scott." Scott, who is detained in Milwaukee County Jail, was arrested in late 2023 for allegedly robbing Morales-Reyes and attacking him with a box cutter. Scott, 52, told police in late May that he had written the threatening letters about Trump, and put Morales-Reyes' address on the envelopes before they were sent on his behalf by others, to get the immigrant arrested by federal authorities so that he would be unable to testify at Scott's criminal trial in July, court records state. Scott hoped that his case would be dismissed when Morales-Reyes failed to appear in court, those records say. Scott has been charged with identity theft, felony intimidation of a witness, and bail jumping in connection with the letters plot. At the time Morales-Reyes was arrested, he had applied for a special type of visa available to victims of certain crimes. The web page announcing the Morales-Reyes' arrest remains up on DHS's site, with the now discredited allegations against him. At the bottom of that page is a "disclaimer," which notes that he is no longer under investigation for threatening Trump. —
