Chelsea Man Charged with Aggravated Rape, Threatening Victim with ICE Report

Alfredo Romero-Cortez, a 48-year-old man from Chelsea, Massachusetts, has been charged with aggravated rape, assault and battery on a household member, assault with a dangerous weapon, and witness intimidation following an alleged assault on July 4. The victim, a 35-year-old woman, reported that the assault occurred after a consensual sexual encounter turned violent when she insisted on condom use, leading Romero-Cortez to slap her, threaten her with a pocketknife, and then rape her. He further intimidated her by threatening to report her to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) if she contacted the police, exploiting her fear of separation from her young daughter to keep her silent. The victim sought medical attention at Brigham and Women's Hospital the following day, where hospital staff alerted authorities. Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden condemned the assault and the coercion involved, emphasizing the victim's compounded suffering due to physical harm and fear of immigration consequences. Romero-Cortez pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for July 14.