SANTA ANA, California – A Mexican national and twice-deported illegal immigrant whose criminal history includes nine arrests and a vehicular manslaughter conviction for killing two teenagers in Orange County, was sentenced today to 46 months in federal prison for illegally reentering the United States after being deported.
Oscar Eduardo Ortega, 44, a former resident of Garden Grove, was sentenced by United States District Judge John W. Holcomb.
Ortega pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one count of being an illegal alien found in the United States following removal.
“Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state of California failed the families of the two victims this defendant killed in a DUI accident,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “The federal government under this administration delivered justice where the state would not. We hope today’s sentence brings some measure of healing to those devastated by this criminal’s acts.”
According to court documents, Ortega was removed from the United States in December 2016 and June 2018. In November 2021, Ortega – while under the influence of alcohol and drugs and driving at speeds of 100 mph on the 405 freeway in Seal Beach – crashed into another car, killing the two 19-year-old victims inside.
In 2022, Ortega was convicted in Orange County Superior Court of two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and was sentenced to 10 years in California state prison. He was released from California state prison after serving less than four years of his sentence.
Ortega has been in federal custody since July 2025. His criminal history also includes felony convictions in October 2005 in Los Angeles Superior Court for grand theft of personal property and unlawful taking of a vehicle. In February 2014, Ortega was convicted in Orange County Superior Court of a felony charge of false imprisonment by violence and deceit.
United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Lawrence E. Kole of the Domestic Security and Immigration Crimes Section prosecuted this case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office — Central District of California — U.S. Department of Justice press release.