ICE deports Salt Lake City gang member convicted of federal immigration and firearms violations

SALT LAKE CITY — A Salt Lake City gang member convicted of felony immigration and firearms violations was deported to Belize Thursday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Kenneth Lewellyn Flowers, 36, was transported by commercial air from Salt Lake City Thursday under escort by ERO officers to his home country and turned over to Belizean authorities for questioning.

Flowers was remanded to ICE custody in August after completing a federal prison term. He was convicted in August of felony illegal reentry by a deported alien and possession of a firearm and ammunition by an illegal alien, following an investigation by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). According to court records, Flowers was sentenced to two years in federal prison, with credit for time served.

According to the sentencing memorandum, police found Flowers in possession of a .22 caliber firearm when they responded to a December 2010 Salt Lake City shooting that resulted in the death of another person. Police also found a box of ammunition in Flowers' pocket. Since Flowers was an illegal alien, HSI special agents pursued an investigation that led to his January federal indictment and August conviction.

"Criminal aliens disrupt our communities and menace law abiding Utah residents," said Thomas E. Feeley, field office director for ERO Salt Lake City. "ICE is using its unique immigration enforcement authorities to protect our communities from criminal aliens who pose a threat to public safety."

Department of Homeland Security databases indicate Flowers has been removed from the U.S. on two previous occasions.

Flowers is wanted by Belizean authorities for questioning related to his gang activities.