3 sexual predators arrested by ICE
LAKE PROVIDENCE, La. - Three foreign nationals, convicted of simple kidnapping and indecent behavior with a juvenile, were arrested at the Riverbend Detention Center on Jan. 22 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Office of Detention and Removal Operations (DRO) officers.
Manuel Elvir-Rodriguez, 21, and Elvis J. Correa, 22, both citizens of Honduras, and Elder Guzman-Reyes, a 27-year-old citizen of Mexico, were encountered by DRO officers while conducting Criminal Alien Program (CAP) screening at the Louisiana Department of Corrections.
Further investigation revealed that the three individuals were in the United States illegally.
Their unlawful status in the United States and their criminal convictions make them subject to removal from the United States. All three men were taken into ICE custody and will be detained pending arrangements for their removal from the United States.
Manuel Elvir-Rodriguez and Elder Guzman-Reyes illegally entered the United States on an unknown date and unspecified place.
Elvis J. Correa was first encountered on May 7, 2006, by the U.S. Border Patrol and removed from the United States to Honduras. He illegally reentered the United States at an unspecified location on an unknown date and remained at large.
On Jan. 18, 2009, all three men were arrested for second-degree kidnapping and molestation of a juvenile in Jefferson Parish, La. On Oct. 1, 2009, they entered a guilty plea to the criminal offenses of simple kidnapping and indecent behavior with a juvenile. All were sentenced to one year in prison.
"Too many children are victimized by predators that target the most vulnerable among us - our children," said Philip Miller, DRO field office director for New Orleans. "ICE is committed to apprehending and presenting for prosecution cases involving those who abuse our children and endanger their lives and well-being. We will continue working with federal, state and local agencies to ensure that those who try to hurt children are brought to justice."
This case was part of Operation Predator, which is a nationwide ICE initiative to protect children from sexual predators, including those who travel overseas for sex with minors, Internet child pornographers, criminal alien sex offenders, and child sex traffickers.
ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE. This hotline is staffed around the clock by investigators.
Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.
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