Jamaican Officer Arrested After Illegally Attempting to Buy Gun While in U.S. Unlawfully
BIDDEFORD, Maine – A Jamaican national working as a reserve police officer in Maine has been arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after attempting to illegally purchase a firearm. Jon Luke Evans was taken into custody on July 25 in Biddeford by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in coordination with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Evans was employed by the Old Orchard Beach Police Department at the time of his arrest, despite being unlawfully present in the United States.
“Jon Luke Evans not only violated immigration laws but also attempted an illegal firearm purchase while working as a police officer,” said Patricia H. Hyde, Acting Field Office Director for ERO Boston. “It’s deeply troubling that a law enforcement agency would knowingly employ someone in violation of federal law and even arm them.”
Evans reportedly told ICE agents that he tried to acquire the firearm for use in his police duties. That attempt triggered an alert to ATF officials, who then collaborated with ICE for his arrest.
Evans originally entered the U.S. legally on September 24, 2023, through Miami International Airport, but violated the terms of his stay by overstaying his visa. He was scheduled to leave the country on October 1, 2023, but never departed.
This case closely mirrors a similar incident in April when ICE arrested a 32-year-old Congolese national, Gratien Milandou Wamba, in Falmouth. He, too, was working in law enforcement as a corrections officer while unlawfully in the country and allegedly tried to purchase a firearm illegally.
ICE Boston emphasized that they remain committed to removing individuals who pose threats to public safety, particularly when they are operating in roles of authority and trust.
