Scott, a 52−year−old inmate, is in jail on identity theft charges. He is facing a separate felony intimidation of a witness charge related to a purported fraudulent fundraising effort. Authorities cited him for bail jumping, as he awaits trial on criminal charges in the case. His actions made an unusual legal pickle. Once apprehended, he will likely see an immigration judge, bringing him one step closer to removal from the United States.
Scott’s case took a dangerous turn after he was interviewed by a Milwaukee police detective on May 27. In this interview, he in no uncertain terms confessed to hand writing letters and personally addressing envelopes. He mailed those letters to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, the Milwaukee Police Department and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, specifically ICE’s Office of Congressional Relations. Yet, his intent behind these letters was not just to generate correspondence – it was to manipulate the legal process in his favor.
In recorded phone calls made from the Milwaukee County Jail, Scott expressed his hope to have Ramon Morales-Reyes, a key witness against him, deported before the trial. He suggested that if Morales-Reyes never showed for court, that would work to his advantage.
“Dude don’t come to court then they gonna have to dismiss my case,” – Demetric D. Scott
Scott’s strategy was clear. He believed that removing Morales-Reyes from the country would prevent him from testifying at the trial. In a phone call with his mother, he bragged about how successful his plan had turned out to be.
“The detective was like, ‘Well, whatever your plan was, it worked,’ he said, cause he got deported now because we had to go pick him up,” – Demetric D. Scott
Just the nature of the letters that Scott sent were a red flag to investigators. According to court filings, “those letters appeared to be written by the same person.” This uniformity in handwriting pointed to a knowing effort to contrive an elaborate setup against Morales-Reyes.
Scott’s conversations further revealed his thoughts about Morales-Reyes’ immigration status. In making the argument, he had once said to label him an “illegal immigrant,” and he claimed that his deportation was warranted.
“He got deported the way he should’ve because he wasn’t supposed to be here anyway,” – Demetric D. Scott
Beyond the serious criminal charges already leveled against him, Scott’s calculated, brazen actions have jeopardized his own legal position. He is subject to the risk of an in-person hearing before an immigration judge, worsening his uncertain future in the United States. The gravity of his acts may result in fatal consequences well outside his current criminal indictments.
Throughout the investigation, Scott’s comments and admissions helped shed light onto his state of mind. He oozed with a plan to do it better, suggesting that he had a strategy to carry out a different approach.
“I got a plan. I got a hell of a plan,” – Demetric D. Scott
Scott’s case illustrates how criminal proceedings and immigration law can come together in a complicated legal environment. His charges have huge implications that stretch far beyond these immediate circumstances. He now has to defend himself against these charges of identity theft and witness intimidation, but against the far more tangible threat of being deported from the U.S.
While Scott hopes for a more favorable outcome through further proceedings, he must still stay in custody and contend with these grave charges. His case emphasizes the challenges within the judiciary. It’s a blatant example of how people with connections work to divert public processes for their own gain.