HSI Houston, law enforcement partners apprehend 2 criminal alien fugitives wanted for child sex offenses, other violent crimes

HOUSTON — Two criminal alien fugitives who have been on the run for the past three years and are wanted for child sex offenses and other violent crimes in Southeast Texas were apprehended Jan. 24 by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Houston, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.

Jorge Dionicio Hernandez, a 33-year-old criminal alien from Mexico who has illegally entered the U.S. at least four times, and Omar David Zavala, a 30-year-old previously removed criminal alien from El Salvador and documented MS-13 gang member, were arrested Jan. 24 by authorities in Houston and Mesquite, respectively.

“For far too long, violent criminal aliens and transnational gang members like these two individuals, have reigned terror on the hardworking and law-abiding residents of Southeast Texas,” said HSI Houston Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz. “Working together with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners and using the latest technologies available, we were able to root out these two criminal alien fugitives who are wanted for child sex offenses and safely remove them from the community, putting an end to the fear and lawlessness that they’ve spread.”

Dionicio, who has evaded authorities since January 2022 and has two prior convictions for driving while intoxicated, is currently wanted in Harris County, Texas, for allegedly committing indecency with a child by sexual contact. He has illegally entered the U.S. at least four times and was previously removed to Mexico by U.S. immigration officials on July 10, 2009, Sept. 21, 2009, and Sept. 25, 2009.

Zavala, who has also been on the run since 2022, is currently wanted in Harris County for sexual assault of a child, making terroristic threats and obstruction. Zavala has illegally entered the U.S. at least twice and was previously removed to Mexico by deportation officers from ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Feb. 25, 2015. The Texas Anti-Gang Center, the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Fugitive and Violent Offenders Task Force, the U.S. Marshals North Texas Fugitive Task Force, and the Dallas Police Department Drone Unit assisted in his apprehension.

For more news and information on HSI’s efforts to investigate child exploitation, transnational gangs, and other violent transnational criminal activity in Southeast Texas follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @HSIHouston.

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