Guyana Man Arrested by ICE After Alachua County Jail Booking

Earlier this month, a Guyanese man was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after he was booked into the Alachua County Jail on a battery warrant. 

Mahindranauth “Nicholas” Gopaul, 21, was charged with domestic battery by strangulation in 2024 but the charges were dropped. In 2026, he was charged with misdemeanor battery, although the incident is consistent with sexual assault. Both cases are out of Marion County. 

On September 16 Gopaul was booked into the Alachua County Jail on the 2026 Marion County battery warrant. Gopaul was further booked on a hold by ICE. By September 22, Gopaul was in ICE custody at the Florida Baker Correctional Institute, according to the agency’s website. As of September 28, Gopaul is no longer listed as in ICE custody. It’s unclear if he was deported or released without incident. 

2024 Case

The victim told police that she and Gopaul were arguing about money when he became angry and hit a Red Bull can off the bed before approaching her. Gopaul then reportedly strangled the victim and threw her head against the wall, making her feel unable to breathe. 

The victim said she tried to scratch the sides of Gopaul’s ears to get him off her, and he had a visible mark consistent with her statement. Deputies observed physical evidence consistent with the reported attack. 

The police report states, “After Gopaul left the room, the victim locked the bedroom door. Gopaul then broke back into the room and tried to get the vehicle keys out of her hands. She advised that during the altercation, Gopaul nibbled on her nose with his teeth. The victim then advised while talking to Deputy R. Bosynak... During the incident with the keys, Gopaul picked up her blue and black hairbrush and smacked her on her left leg.”

Gopaul reportedly told police “they were arguing about spending money last night for groceries” and that he “became really upset” when the victim said something to him. With redactions in the police report, it’s unclear what exactly she said. Gopaul reportedly changed his story multiple times. 

Within just a day or two after the incident, the victim was already telling authorities she wanted the no-contact order lifted, although she advised she’d like to participate in couple’s counseling with Gopaul. 

Prosecutors later dropped the case; the victim and Gopaul remained in a relationship afterwards. 

2026 Case

On May 30, 2026, Marion County deputies charged Gopaul with battery for an incident that occurred the prior day. Although he was charged with battery, the offense description on the report acknowledges the incident is a sex crime.

The victim said she has known Gopaul for several years through his mother-in-law 

According to the police report, “The victim stated around 7 o'clock pm she was at home watching TV when she heard a knock on the door. When she opened the door, she saw Gopaul at the door. He requested the victim to print a paper to sign because he had just purchased a BMW car. The victim stated that she told him that her printer was not working. The victim advised that it's not normal for Gopaul to come over to her house by himself. She advised she has helped his family in the past. She stated it was the first time she had seen this car when he drove it to her house that day.”

Gopaul went on to sit near the victim on the porch and asked if she’d like to see a video on Snapchat. The victim agreed, thinking it would be a funny video. It was not. 

“Gopaul then got up and sat in the chair beside her,” states the police report. “The video Gopaul showed her was of him masturbating in the nude in the bathroom. Gopaul was in a chair with the camera set up in front of him recording him. She believes the video was taken at a previous residence of Gopaul but she was not sure. In the video she could see Gopaul stroking his penis in the nude… She stated he swiped the video and showed a video of Gopaul and his wife having intercourse. She stated that Gopaul was behind his wife while she was bent over. The victim referred to it as doggy-style. In the video, Gopaul is holding the camera. She stated in the video she cannot see who the male is but she recognizes his wife in the video. This video is recorded on a bed in a bedroom. The female was not wearing any clothes and she could see the male's penis.”

The victim froze in disbelief of what Gopaul was showing her. Gopaul then reportedly began rubbing her thigh while touching his genitals and making a sexual remark. Gopaul then took his clothes off and continued to rub his genitalia. 

The victim advised that Gopaul made another sexual remark before she told him she needed to shower and left him on the porch. She had her parents go sit with Gopaul until he left. 

The victim said that after her shower she went into her bedroom and cried, feeling disgusting after Gopaul’s actions. She didn’t want to tell her parents what happened. 

The victim told Gopaul’s wife about the incident, but she called back and told the victim Gopaul said the incident “didn’t happen.”

The victim tried to talk to Gopaul’s mother-in-law, who reportedly said the incident is between Gopaul, the victim and God.

When speaking to police, Gopaul acknowledged that he was at the victim’s house but denied the incident at hand. He denied touching her at any point. 

In Florida, many cases of sexual assault are charged as misdemeanor battery because the statute has narrow and specific criteria, which generally only applies sexual assault to skin-to-skin and/or penetrative non-consensual sexual contact. 

Gopaul has pleaded not guilty to battery but his current whereabouts are unconfirmed and it’s unclear how the case will move forward due to ICE arresting him.

Editor’s Notes: Quotes from the police reports contain small grammar-related changes.