The Trump administration has launched an aggressive effort to block the early release of Oscar Eduardo Ortega-Anguiano, an illegal immigrant who killed two teenagers while driving drunk, as California Governor Gavin Newsom agrees to cooperate with federal authorities seeking additional charges.
Top Takeaways
- Ortega-Anguiano, previously deported in 2013, was sentenced to 10 years for killing two teens in a 2021 DUI crash but may be released after serving only 3 years
- The Trump administration is pursuing federal immigration charges that could result in up to 20 additional years in prison
- Governor Newsom has agreed to cooperate with federal authorities, pledging the state will coordinate with ICE before any release
- Families of the victims have expressed outrage over the potential early release, calling it a “slap in the face”
- ICE has placed a detainer on Ortega-Anguiano, though California’s sanctuary policies have complicated similar enforcement actions in the past
A Fatal Crash and Controversial Early Release
In November 2021, Oscar Eduardo Ortega-Anguiano was driving nearly 100 mph while drunk and high when he crashed his vehicle, killing 19-year-olds Anya Varfolomeev and Nicholay Osokin. After being convicted of two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated in spring 2022, Ortega-Anguiano received a 10-year prison sentence. However, he is now expected to be released after serving just three years, sparking outrage among victims’ families and becoming a flashpoint in the national immigration debate.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has stated that inmates can earn credits for early release through participation in various rehabilitative programs. For the families of the victims, this explanation offers little comfort. Pavel Osokin, father of one of the victims, expressed his frustration with the justice system: “Three years for killing two kids! It’s confusing to me. Why you give them 10 if they’re gonna spend five, and then three? Give them three in the beginning, at least we know what to expect. It’s sort of spitting in my face.”
BREAKING: Twice deported illegal with long rap sheet including felonies who kiIIed two teens while driving drunk is getting an early release thanks to woke California officials.
He was sentenced to 10 years but now California is releasing him back onto the streets after 3 years.… pic.twitter.com/lEkwwytbAU
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) April 23, 2025
Trump Administration Takes Action
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has been vocal about the administration’s stance on the case, emphasizing the President’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws and protecting American citizens. “President Trump is not going to tolerate illegal immigrant crime. This individual case represents everything that is wrong with our immigration system,” Leavitt stated during a recent press briefing. She confirmed that the Department of Justice is actively pursuing federal charges against Ortega-Anguiano.
U.S. Attorney Bilal Essayli for the Central District of California has filed a felony immigration charge against Ortega-Anguiano under 8 USC 1326, the federal statute charging deported illegal migrants who re-enter the United States. If convicted on this charge, Ortega-Anguiano could face up to 20 years in federal prison, potentially keeping him incarcerated long after his state sentence concludes.
California Cooperation Despite Sanctuary Policies
In a notable development, California Governor Gavin Newsom has pledged to assist federal authorities in their case against Ortega-Anguiano. Through an official statement on social media, the governor’s office acknowledged the seriousness of the case: “After being deported in 2013, this individual unlawfully re-entered the US & committed heinous crimes.” The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has committed to coordinating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to ensure a proper transfer of custody before any release.
“It’s disgusting. You have two young, unbelievable future, productive American citizens killed for nothing and that illegal immigrant who already has been deported twice is going to be released again? For what? If even he is deported, he will come back,” said Anatoly Varfolomeev, father of one of the victims.
This cooperation represents a significant shift, as California’s sanctuary policies have previously complicated federal immigration enforcement efforts. ICE has placed a detainer on Ortega-Anguiano, requesting notification before his release so that federal authorities can take him into custody. The victims’ families remain concerned that without federal intervention, Ortega-Anguiano might simply be deported again, potentially allowing him to return to the United States illegally as he did after his 2013 deportation.
A Test Case for Immigration Enforcement
The Ortega-Anguiano case has become emblematic of the Trump administration’s broader approach to immigration enforcement, particularly regarding individuals who have committed serious crimes after entering the country illegally. Attorney General Pam Bondi has expressed outrage over the situation, emphasizing the administration’s focus on justice for the victims and their families. White House Press Secretary Leavitt has highlighted the case as an example of systemic failures in immigration enforcement that the administration intends to address.
As the legal proceedings continue, the case underscores the complex interplay between state criminal justice systems, federal immigration enforcement, and the human toll of policy decisions. For the families of Anya Varfolomeev and Nicholay Osokin, the pursuit of justice continues as they advocate for meaningful consequences for the man responsible for the deaths of their children.
