Despite rioters and local opposition, DHS arrests violent felons in Los Angeles

Despite violent rioters and local officials claiming federal immigration enforcement officers are criminals for enforcing lawful orders, a U.S. Department of Homeland Security operation in Los Angeles led to the arrests of several violent convicted felons.

Recent arrests are all men, including confirmed gang members and watch-listed suspected terrorists, all in the U.S. illegally. They are citizens of Cuba, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Russia and Vietnam. The majority are citizens of Mexico.

Their convictions include murder, pedophilia, fentanyl trafficking, spousal abuse, sexual assault, and armed robbery, according to a recent announcement by DHS. They remain in custody pending removal proceedings.

Cuban national Daniel Ofarril was arrested after violating a 2004 removal order and illegally living in the U.S. for more than 20 years. His criminal history includes arrests for murder, burglary, armed robbery, battery, driving under the influence, and transporting/selling narcotics, and convictions for possessing crack cocaine with the intention to sell, DHS says.

DHS also arrested Colombia national Cristian Vasco-Echeverry, whose criminal history includes drug trafficking and a 10-year prison sentence in Colombia.

Salvadoran national Oscar Juventino Ardon Landaverde, a known member of the foreign-terrorist gang MS-13, was arrested after illegally reentering the U.S. multiple times after being removed. He is also identified as a known or suspected terrorist, watchlisted on the U.S. Terrorist Screening Dataset, DHS said.

Guatemalan nationals arrested include Elder Orlando Esquivel, a gotaway convicted of “enticing away, keeping, withholding, or concealing away child from their lawful custodian;” Otto Fernando Godoy, convicted of international conspiracy to distribute cocaine and sentenced to 51 months in prison; Jacinto Roberto Mateo, a registered sex offender and aggravated felon convicted for lewd and lascivious acts with a minor in 2017 and sentenced to three years in prison.

DHS also arrested Honduran national Efran Omar Rosales-Serrano, who was convicted of attempting to molest a victim under 12 years old, received a removal order in 2021 and illegally reentered in 2023.

DHS also arrested Russian national Vladimir Dunaev, who was convicted last year for conspiracy to commit computer fraud and aggravated identity theft, wire fraud and bank fraud and sentenced to more than 10 years in prison.

DHS also arrested Vietnamese national Hung Nguyen, who has been convicted of 22 crimes, including indecent exposure, theft and more recently of inflicting corporal injury on a spouse/cohabitant for which he was sentenced to two years in prison.

The greatest number arrested were Mexican citizens, including:

Juventino Acevedo Rodriguez, a registered sex offender who illegally reentered the U.S. after previously being deported. He was convicted for having oral sex with an unconscious victim.Jesus Zamora-Lopez, a known MS-13 gang member, was ordered to be removed from the country by a federal judge in 1997. His convictions include assault with a deadly weapon, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and petty theft. He illegally reentered the U.S. at least two times after being deported, DHS said.Juan Diego Euan, a registered sex offender, convicted of sexual penetration of a minor under age 16.Cesar Zetina-Michua, convicted of attempted murder after illegally entering the U.S.Salvador Montar Morales, convicted of attempted sexual contact with a minor.Walter Jose Clarios, convicted of robbery, burglary, and two drug possession crimes; he illegally entered the U.S. at least three times after previously being deported.Cielo Vivar-Ubaldo, convicted of having sex with a minor, narcotics violations, and a hit and run. He illegally entered the U.S. at least four times, DHS said.Angel Francisco Ortega-Rodriguez, convicted of importing fentanyl and sentenced to 27 months in prison.Roberto Martinez-Torres, convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to more than two years in prison; convicted of illegal reentry into the U.S. after having a removal order.Ignacio Soto-Fernandez, convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana intended for importation; sentenced to 144 months in prison.Pedro Davalos Castellanos, convicted of domestic battery of a spouse, robbery, burglary, and forgery.Feliciano Castro-Sanchez, arrested in March on sexual battery and other sex crime charges.

They are in addition to violent convicted felons ICE agents continue to arrest in Los Angeles, The Center Square reported. U.S. attorneys statewide in California also continue to prosecute those assaulting federal agents, The Center Square reported.