Trump Administration Files Federal Charges Against Illegal Immigrant Convicted of Manslaughter After Early Release from California Prison
Outrage has erupted after California’s decision to release an illegal immigrant convicted of manslaughter just 3.5 years into his 10-year sentence.
The Trump administration, citing concerns over the lenient treatment of the convicted individual, has filed federal charges in an effort to seek justice for the victims.
Oscar Eduardo Ortega-Anguiano was driving drunk and high in November 2021 when he crashed into a vehicle driven by 19-year-olds Anya Varfolomeev and Nicholay Osokin on the 405 freeway in Orange County.
The crash killed both young adults, who were burned alive in the wreck. Ortega-Anguiano, who had previously been deported twice, was convicted of two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated in the spring of 2022.
However, despite the horrific nature of his crime, Ortega-Anguiano is set to be released on July 19, 2025, after serving less than half of his sentence, according to Fox News.
The families of the victims were informed of the early release on Easter Sunday, sparking outrage across the country.
In response, U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli announced that his office had filed felony immigration charges against Ortega-Anguiano, who now faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
“If the state of California will not seek the full measure of justice against this individual, the DOJ will,” Essayli tweeted.
Attorney General Pam Bondi also expressed her outrage over the early release. In a statement on social media, she called the decision “absolutely unconscionable,” questioning the lack of justice for the victims’ families.
“What about Justice for these teens? What about the rights of their parents?” Bondi said, adding that the Department of Justice would work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to ensure Ortega-Anguiano faces the full consequences of his actions.
Despite California’s sanctuary policies, which have sometimes hindered federal immigration enforcement, ICE has issued a detainer for Ortega-Anguiano.
Tom Homan, former ICE Director and current border czar, was clear in his response, stating that federal authorities would step in if necessary.
“If the state of California refuses to honor the detainer, we will have ICE agents outside that facility to take custody of this individual and deport him,” Homan said during an interview on America’s Newsroom.
The families of the victims, Anya Varfolomeev and Nicholay Osokin, continue to advocate for justice. Anatoly Varfolomeev, Anya’s father, expressed his disbelief and heartbreak.
“You have two young, incredible American citizens killed for no reason, and this illegal immigrant, who has already been deported twice, is going to be released again? It’s disgusting,” he told Fox News.
Pavel Osokin, the father of Nicholay, voiced his frustration with the justice system, saying, “Three years for killing two kids? It’s confusing. Why give him ten years if he’s going to serve only three?”
This case has put a spotlight on the tensions between state sanctuary policies and federal immigration law, with many Americans questioning the leniency shown to illegal immigrants who commit serious crimes.
The Trump administration’s intervention demonstrates its commitment to ensuring that individuals who have committed heinous crimes face the full extent of the law, regardless of their immigration status.
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