LAWFUEL – Law News Network – Agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement this week arrested 25
foreign nationals who have been convicted of sexual assaults, such as rape and sexual abuse of a minor. Four of those taken into custody are illegal aliens who will be criminally prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, and the remaining 21 will
begin administrative proceedings that are expected to lead to their deportation. A twenty-sixth man, an illegal alien who is facing criminal charges, is a fugitive currently being sought by authorities.
The five defendants facing criminal charges are accused of illegal re-entry after deportation. These five allegedly were deported at least one once in the past and reentered the United States without authorization. Because of their prior convictions, all five illegal re-entry defendants face sentences of up to 20 years in federal prison.
The four men arrested this week on criminal illegal re-entry charges are:
! Oscar William Carillo-Turcios, 43, of Los Angeles. Carillo-Turcios is a citizen of El Salvador, who was previously deported from the United States in 1984 and 1996. Carillo-Turcios was previously convicted of committing lewd and lascivious acts upon a child under 14 years of age (in 1982, which resulted in a three-year
sentence) and Burglary (in 1994, which led to a two-year sentence). Carillo-Turcios was arrested on Tuesday and is scheduled to be arraigned on an indictment on Monday.
! Jose Angel Pakas-Murcia, 46, of Baldwin Park. Pakas-Murcia is a citizen of Honduras, who was previously deported in 1995. Pakas-Murcia was previously convicted of sexual battery on a minor by a family member (in 1993, which resulted in a six-year sentence). Pakas-Murcia was arrested on Tuesday and faces a preliminary hearing on September 6.
! Jose Luis Ramos, 47, of Los Angeles.
Ramos is a citizen of El Salvador, who was previously deported in 1999. Ramos was previously convicted of committing lewd and lascivious acts upon a child under 14 years of age (in 1999, which led
to a six year sentence). Ramos was arrested on Tuesday and faces a
preliminary hearing on September 6.
Manuel Sanchez Vasquez, 36, of Baldwin Park. Vasquez is a citizen of Mexico, who was previously deported in 1997. Vasquez was previously convicted of committing lewd and lascivious acts upon a child under 14 years of age (in 1992,
which resulted in a one-year sentence). Vasquez was arrested on Monday and is scheduled to be arraigned on September 25.
Earlier this week, these four defendants were ordered detained without bond.
The fifth criminal defendant being sought by federal authorities is Alejandro Rodriguez Villegas, 50, of Los Angeles. Villegas is a citizen of El Salvador, who was previously deported in 1997. Villegas has a prior felony conviction for committing lewd
and lascivious acts upon a child under 14 years of age (in 1994, which resulted in a five-year sentence).
Indictments and criminal informations contain allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven
guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The criminal cases will by prosecuted by the Domestic Security and Immigration Crimes Section, a new prosecutorial unit created earlier this year by United States Attorney Debra Wong Yang.
The remaining 21 sex offender aliens – including 17 Mexican nationals, three Salvadorans and a Filipino – are being detained by ICE and will be placed in administrative immigration proceedings. Of the 21, 14 are legal permanent residents whose criminal convictions make them subject to deportation. The remaining seven
entered the country illegally.
CONTACT: Assistant United States Attorney Curtis A. Kin
Chief, Domestic Security and Immigration Crimes Section
(213) 894-6772
Release No. 06-109
