Illegal Immigrant Rapist Nabbed by Feds After Being Set Free in New York

An illegal alien, who previously avoided jail time in a 2023 rape case, was arrested by federal agents in Queens on Monday.

Kail Cardenas, an Ecuadorian national, was taken into custody after being freed last month under a deal that allowed him to avoid jail time despite the serious charges against him.

Federal immigration agents apprehended Cardenas in Jamaica early Monday morning. The arrest came just weeks after he was released following a plea agreement in which he avoided prison for charges related to rape and sexual assault.

“DEANewYork continues, along with our @justicedept & other federal law enforcement partners, to assist @dhsgov with their immigration enforcement efforts targeting violent illegal criminals,” the New York division of the federal agency posted on X.

The 27-year-old entered the U.S. on a visitor visa from Ecuador in September 2016, according to The Post. However, he overstayed his visa, and by July 2021, his legal status expired.

Authorities allege that in January 2023, Cardenas assaulted a woman at an apartment party in Jamaica. The victim, who had passed out, reported waking up to find Cardenas sexually assaulting her.

Court documents reveal that Cardenas later admitted in Instagram messages to the victim that he saw her sleeping and touched her body before proceeding with the assault.

“He got an erection when he was touching her and then started having sex with [her],” court documents read.

After his arrest, Cardenas faced first-degree rape and first-degree sexual assault charges, which carried the possibility of 5 to 25 years in prison. However, as part of a plea deal, Cardenas pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of third-degree rape.

This agreement stipulated that if he completed one year of sex offender counseling, he would not serve jail time. The charge was later downgraded to third-degree sexual abuse, a misdemeanor.

On Jan. 13, Cardenas was sentenced to time already served in jail and released with an order of protection mandating that he stay away from the victim. Despite his release, Cardenas’ freedom was short-lived.