http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/16/jorge-puello-adviser-to-u_n_463697.htmlSANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — The fugitive former legal adviser to a group of Americans detained in Haiti on kidnapping charges said Tuesday he has yet another reason to stay in hiding: He's been indicted in the U.S. in an immigrant smuggling case.
Jorge Puello, who surged into the spotlight by providing food, medicine and legal assistance to the 10 Americans jailed in Haiti, was already being pursued by law enforcement authorities in the Dominican Republic on an Interpol warrant out of El Salvador, where police say he led a ring that lured young women and girls into prostitution. He also had an outstanding warrant for a U.S. parole violation.
Puello – who says he is innocent of all the accusations against him – acknowledged in a phone interview with The Associated Press that he is also named in a 2003 federal indictment out of Vermont that accuses him of smuggling illegal immigrants from Canada into the United States.
The 32-year-old, identified as Jorge Torres in the indictment, was living in Canada at the time and managed to avoid arrest. He says he was working undercover for U.S. authorities at the time. Law enforcement officials said they hadn't yet confirmed the Puello is Torres but the case is open.
"Mr. Torres was a fugitive in Canada and the United States has requested his extradition," said Tristram Coffin, the U.S. Attorney for Vermont. "We've always been interested in him. We remain interested in fugitives when they flee."