Twice-Deported Driver Sentenced for Illegal Re-Entry After Deadly DUI Crash
A Mexican national, previously deported twice, has been sentenced to federal prison for illegally re-entering the United States following a drunken driving crash that claimed the lives of two California teenagers. The case has ignited public outrage over sentencing disparities and immigration enforcement.
Orange County, CA – Oscar Eduardo Ortega-Anguiano, 26, was sentenced on Friday by U.S. District Judge John Holcomb to three years and ten months in prison for illegal re-entry. He is expected to face deportation again upon completion of his sentence, according to his attorney. This sentencing comes after Ortega-Anguiano served just over three years of a ten-year sentence for causing the deaths of Anya Varfolomeev and Nicholay Osokin, both 19, in November 2021.
The tragic incident occurred on the San Diego Freeway’s Seal Beach Boulevard in Orange County. Ortega-Anguiano, driving while intoxicated and without a valid driver’s license, collided with a 2000 Honda occupied by Varfolomeev and Osokin just before midnight on November 13, 2021. Both teenagers were pronounced dead at the scene.
Following the crash, Ortega-Anguiano was initially sentenced to ten years and ten days in state prison. However, the judge deducted 334 days for time already served and good behavior, resulting in a significantly reduced sentence that sparked widespread condemnation.
The families of the victims expressed profound disappointment with the initial sentencing. Varfolomeev’s father voiced his frustration, stating, “We came to the United States 35 years ago legally. We are legal immigrants. He is not.” This sentiment underscored the perceived injustice of the situation and fueled the debate surrounding immigration and criminal justice.
After being released from state custody in July, Ortega-Anguiano was immediately taken into federal custody. He pleaded guilty in October to the charge of illegally re-entering the U.S., having been previously deported on two separate occasions. Judge Holcomb then imposed the 46-month sentence, along with three years of probation.
During the sentencing hearing on Friday, Ortega-Anguiano addressed the victims’ families, stating, “I pray for your forgiveness every day.”
The case highlights the complexities of immigration law and the challenges faced by law enforcement in dealing with repeat offenders. It also raises critical questions about the balance between punishment, rehabilitation, and public safety.
