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President Donald Trump’s newly appointed chief federal prosecutor in Los Angeles announced plans to pursue immigration charges against a man who could be released from state prison after serving approximately three years for a fatal 2021 crash that killed a young couple.
Bill Essayli, who was sworn in this month as U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, highlighted the case amid reports the driver could be freed after serving less than half of his 10-year sentence for vehicular manslaughter.
“If the State of California will not seek the full measure of justice against this individual, [the Justice Department] will,” Essayli stated in a post on X.
The federal prosecutor noted pending charges, initially filed under the Biden administration, could result in up to 20 years in federal prison for Oscar Eduardo Ortega-Anguiano, 43, if convicted of illegally reentering the U.S. after being deported twice previously.
According to court records, Ortega-Anguiano was under the influence of drugs and alcohol and driving nearly 95 mph in November 2021 when his Volkswagen crashed into Anya Varfolomeev and Nikolay Osokin, both 19. Both victims were killed when their Honda burst into flames following the collision.
State prison records show he is currently housed at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville and is eligible for parole in July.
A spokesperson for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation explained that Ortega-Anguiano “received 334 days of pre-sentence credits for time served locally while awaiting sentencing and is eligible for credit-earning opportunities while incarcerated.”
While state prisoners often serve reduced sentences due to rehabilitation program credits and good behavior, the prospect of Ortega-Anguiano’s early release has prompted strong reactions from Trump administration officials.
Attorney General Pam Bondi expressed outrage on X, “This is absolutely unconscionable. What about Justice for these teens? What about the rights of their parents?”
Border czar Tom Homan pledged to send federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to enforce a detainer agreement, which requires local officials to hold individuals facing deportation.
“I will work with [Homeland Security] Secretary Noem on this case, and I guarantee you, if they don’t honor the detainer, we’ll have ICE agents outside that facility to take custody of this individual and deport him,” Homan said on Fox’s “America’s Newsroom.”
In response, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office released a statement committing to honor the detainer, saying state prison officials “will again coordinate with ICE — as they have w/ 10,000+ inmates — to transfer him before release.”
An ICE spokesperson confirmed a detainer was placed on June 9, 2022, while Ortega-Anguiano was at North Kern State Prison. According to ICE, his previous criminal convictions include burglary in 2005, vehicle theft in 2007, and battery on spouse with kidnapping in 2014.
“This tragedy was completely preventable. This criminal illegal alien should have never been in our country,” Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, said. “We hope California law enforcement will work us to ensure this criminal alien is not released into American communities.”
Court documents reveal Ortega-Anguiano’s federal arraignment on the immigration charge did not occur as scheduled on March 10 because he was not transferred from state prison as requested. He has not yet entered a plea in the federal case.
The statement from Newsom’s office pointed out a Republican D.A. was in charge in Orange County when Ortega-Anguiano entered the plea, which resulted in his current prison sentence. The statement suggested a harsher penalty under second-degree murder charges could have been pursued.
O.C. D.A. Todd Spitzer countered with his own statement, asserting Ortega-Anguiano “pled to the Court and was sentenced by a judge under California law, over the objection of Orange County prosecutors, who unsuccessfully argued for the maximum sentence.”
