ICE ERO arrests California fugitive in Maryland wanted for raping a child

BALTIMORE – An El Salvadoran national residing in Hyattsville, Md., wanted in Santa Barbara, Calif., for aggravated sexual assault on a child under 14 years of age and forcible rape was arrested Monday by officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Santos Javier Guevara-Oliva, 33, was arrested Feb. 25 at his Hyattsville residence by officers of ERO Baltimore's Criminal Alien Program (CAP) assigned to the U.S. Marshals' Capital Area Region Task Force after he was identified as being a criminal alien who illegally re-entered the United States after deportation.

"Removing known criminal aliens that sexually exploit children from our streets is an ICE priority in maintaining the safety and quality of life that the citizens of Maryland expect," said Calvin McCormick, field office director for ERO in Baltimore. "ICE will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to ensure that criminal alien fugitives are held accountable for their actions and protect our communities from threats to public safety."

On Feb. 1, Santa Barbara Superior Court filed state criminal charges against Guevara-Oliva for aggravated sexual assault on a child under 14-years-of-age and for forcible rape. Detectives from the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department contacted ERO officers in Santa Barbara after they suspected that Guevara-Oliva may be unlawfully in the country. ERO officers initiated an investigation and determined that Guevara-Oliva is a citizen of El Salvador, who was previously deported from the United States as an aggravated felon in December 2010. At an unknown place and time, Guevara-Oliva illegally re-entered the United States without inspection and took up residence in the Santa Barbara area. ERO Santa Barbara officers contacted ERO Baltimore CAP officers after they learned that Guevara may have fled to the Baltimore/Washington, D.C., area.

The continuous efforts and interaction between ERO Baltimore CAP officers, Maryland State Police, detectives from Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department and the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office ultimately resulted in the location and arrest of Guevara.

His criminal convictions in 2009 in Santa Barbara include grand theft and false imprisonment where he was sentenced to two years in prison.

Guevara-Oliva is currently in custody in Baltimore City pending extradition to Santa Barbara where, if convicted, he faces up to life in prison with no possibility of parole.

ERO enforces the nation's immigration laws by identifying and arresting removable aliens, and by detaining and removing priority aliens from the United States. ERO prioritizes the arrest and removal of convicted criminal aliens, those aliens who pose a threat to national security, immigration fugitives, and recent border entrants. CAP provides ICE-wide direction and support in the identification of aliens incarcerated within federal, state and local prisons and jails, as well as at-large criminal aliens.