A 43-year-old man who prosecutors say was twice deported when he killed two teens in a DUI crash in Orange County was released from state prison and turned over to federal custody Thursday, the Department of Justice said.
In November 2021, police say Oscar Eduardo Ortega Anguiano, a convicted felon who was in the country illegally, was driving drunk in Seal Beach when he killed 19-year-old Paul Osokin and his girlfriend, 19-year-old Anya Varfolomeeve, in a crash.
Anguino served 3 and a half years of a 10-year sentence for the 2021 DUI and is expected to face charges of reentering the U.S. illegally, according to federal prosecutors.
Anatoly Varfolomeev, father to one of the victims, says he waited outside a Vacaville state facility Wednesday, hoping to come face to face with the man convicted of killing his daughter.
“If I could see the guy, I could have a chance to say what I think about him,” said Anatoly. “I will never forget him for what he did to my family and to the family of the Osokins, never.”
Anatoly did not see Anguiano getting released, but the U.S. Department of Justice confirms to NBC4 he is now in federal custody and expected to be arraigned on federal charges as early as tomorrow.
“Well, I can’t say that I am elated, that I am happy, because I will never be happy, but at least again, it’s some semblance to the justice that that guy deserves,” said Anatoly.
Anguino’s scheduled release this month was 6 and a half years ahead of his 10-year sentence, which enraged the families of the two teens he killed. It also caused a political blame game between federal and state officials.
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s press office released a statement in April saying a GOP district attorney gave Anguiano a plea deal instead of pursuing a second-degree murder charge.
“After being deported in 2013, this individual unlawfully re-entered the U.S. & committed heinous crimes. A GOP DA then gave him a plea deal instead of pursuing 2nd-degree murder. CDCR will again coordinate with ICE — as they have w/ 10,000+ inmates — to transfer him before release,” wrote Newsom’s office.
In response to the governor’s statement, the Orange County District Attorney, Todd Spitzer, wrote in part:
“This was not a plea deal. This was a defendant who 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. It is another stab to the heart of victims across California by Governor Newsom and a state Legislature who are hell-bent on releasing as many criminals as possible without any accountability and without any punishment.”
In a post on X, U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli wrote that his office has filed a felony immigration charge against Anguiano.
“If the State of California will not seek the full measure of justice against this individual, the @TheJusticeDept will,” said Assayli.
According to a federal complaint, Anguiano was deported and removed from the U.S. in 2016 and 2018. Three years later, in 2021, Anguiano was back in the country when he was driving drunk and killed the two teens on the 405 Freeway in Seal Beach.
A federal grand jury indicted Anguiano in 2022 for reentering the country illegally.
Anatoly says the federal charges won’t take the pain away of losing his daughter, but will return some of the family’s trust.
“It won’t take away our pain. It won’t heal us, but at least we would have some trust in the society,” said Anatoly.
Source: NBC Los Angeles
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