Chelsea man allegedly raped woman at knifepoint, threatened to report her to ICE

A Chelsea man is facing charges after he allegedly raped a woman at knifepoint and threatened to report her to federal immigration authorities, prosecutors announced.

Alfredo Romero-Cortez, 48, was arraigned on charges including aggregated rape, domestic assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and intimidating a witness, court records show. He pleaded not guilty in Chelsea District Court Monday.

Prosecutors said the 35-year-old woman reported the rape and assault to nurses at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston. She said she and Romero-Cortez were going to have consensual sex at his Hooper Street apartment, but he “became angry” because she wanted him to use a condom, prosecutors alleged.

Romero-Cortez then allegedly “slapped her three times in the face, pulled her by her arm, and then produced a cream-colored pocketknife,” the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office released in a statement. “She said Romero-Cortez told her she ‘better do what he says’ while threatening her with the knife.”

The woman, who has a young daughter, said Romero-Cortez threatened to report her to ICE if she reported the assault, prosecutors said. However, the next day, she left work early, went to the hospital, and reported the assault to a nurse, according to the DA.

“The facts here are troubling on numerous levels, certainly with the physical harm the victim suffered in the assault along with her reluctance to report because of the threats about ICE and her fear of separation from her child,” Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden said. “This is the type of combined anguish no one should have to experience.” 

Benjamin Urbelis, Romero-Cortez’s lawyer, did not return a request for comment Wednesday evening.

The district attorney said victims of domestic and sexual violence should report incidents to SafeLink, a statewide hotline, at 877-785-2020.

Molly Farrar

Molly Farrar is a general assignment reporter for Boston.com, focusing on education, politics, crime, and more.