Ohio traffic stop leads to ICE arrest of illegal alien wanted in Iowa for terrorism and attempted murder

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A Mexican man, wanted on several outstanding criminal warrants related to attempted murder and terrorism charges in Iowa in 2001, was arrested by officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Ohio following a traffic stop by state police.

Oscar Antonio Pena-Sanchez, 37, of Tampico, Mexico, was encountered by an Ohio State Patrol trooper April 6. During the encounter Pena-Sanchez presented the trooper with a fraudulent New Jersey driver's license, issued in another person's name. While questioning the suspect, the trooper became suspicious that the documents and statements Pena-Sanchez presented during the encounter were likely false. As a result, the officer requested assistance from the local ICE office.

ICE officers responding to the call quickly determined the documents were issued in the name of a Puerto Rican person of about the same age. After biographical records checks, they discovered Pena-Sanchez's real name and that he was wanted in Iowa on four separate criminal arrest warrants. The warrants cover a variety of crimes including attempted murder, terrorism and weapons charges, all issued in 2001 in the eastern Iowa city of Wapello, near Davenport.

ICE officers placed Pena-Sanchez in custody April 7 and have since contacted Louisa County, Iowa, authorities who will extradite Pena-Sanchez back to Iowa to face those charges.

The criminal charges are merely allegations. Any defendant is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.