Fact Check: "Noviello had a legal visa status before being detained by ICE."
What We Know
Johnny Noviello, a Canadian citizen, entered the United States on January 2, 1988, with legal visa status. He became a lawful permanent resident on October 24, 1991 (source-1, source-4, source-6). Prior to his detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), he was convicted in Volusia County for racketeering and drug trafficking in October 2023, which led to his arrest by ICE on May 15, 2023, for deportation due to his controlled substance violation (source-1, source-8).
Analysis
The claim that Noviello had legal visa status before being detained by ICE is supported by multiple credible sources. Both ICE's official press release and reports from reputable news outlets confirm that he entered the U.S. legally and maintained lawful permanent resident status until his recent legal troubles (source-1, source-6).
The information regarding his legal status is consistent across these sources, which enhances their reliability. The ICE press release is particularly authoritative as it comes directly from the federal agency involved. Additionally, the details of his legal status and subsequent criminal activities are corroborated by multiple articles, including those from Newsweek and The Daily Beast.
While the sources discussing his criminal activities (such as racketeering and drug trafficking) provide context for his detention, they do not contradict the claim regarding his visa status. The timeline of events clearly shows that he was legally in the country before his arrest.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The evidence overwhelmingly supports the claim that Johnny Noviello had legal visa status before being detained by ICE. He entered the United States with a legal visa in 1988 and became a lawful permanent resident in 1991. This status was maintained until his recent legal issues, which led to his detention.
