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ICE catches father, son sex offenders

By Alan Gathright, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published December 29, 2007 at 12:30 a.m.

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A gang member and two registered sex offenders - a father and his son - have been detained by federal immigration agents and Greeley police and face deportation.

The sex offenders are illegal immigrants from Mexico, while the accused gang member is a legal permanent resident from Mexico, a news release from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said.

Authorities called the busts Wednesday a victory for twin federal immigration campaigns - "Operation Predator" and "Operation Community Shield." The efforts aim to protect the public from child molesters, Internet predators and human traffickers, as well as international gangs.

"ICE and local law enforcement agencies all have the common goal of reducing the threat to public safety," Jeffrey Copp, ICE supervising special agent in Denver, said in the press release.

"Removing criminal aliens from the streets and from the country contributes to this overall goal."

Greeley Police Chief Jerry Gardner agreed.

"The simple truth is that we do not want gangsters and known sex offenders in our community, regardless of their citizenship status," Gardner said in the release.

"We have a good working relationship with ICE. Anytime we can work with them to remove offenders who also are in this country illegally, we will do it in a heartbeat," he said. "The citizens of Greeley have a right to expect that of their police department."

ICE officials said privacy laws prevented them from naming the suspects.

But the Greeley Tribune identified the father and son as Francisco Loma, 67, and Jose Loma, 33, illegal immigrants from Mexico.

The two have unrelated convictions for sexually assaulting underage girls.

The father was convicted in Los Angeles of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old female relative and served a three-year prison sentence.

His son was convicted in the Weld County Court in 2003 for sexual assault on his 15- year-old girlfriend when he was 27 years old. He received a five-year deferred sentence.

The third man was a 24- year-old Mexican man who was an active member of a street gang that operates in the Greeley area.

Although he is a U.S. permanent resident, his criminal convictions make him eligible for deportation, ICE officials said.

He has a felony conviction for "menacing," and separate misdemeanor convictions for child abuse and third-degree assault.

All three suspects are currently in deportation proceedings.

gathrighta@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5486

Comments

  • December 29, 2007

    5:48 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    KC writes:

    3 down, 15,894,627 to go. Oops, 15,894,631 to go. Now, 15,894,638 to go........

  • December 29, 2007

    6:18 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    I_am_not_fooled writes:

    We will deport them and they will return within 60 days. This is a perfect example of why we need to make it more difficult to cross that southern border. We have enough home-grown criminals without Mexico's added burden.

  • December 29, 2007

    7:23 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    snowbelly writes:

    wow 3,huh,i'm impressed.somewhat.

  • December 29, 2007

    7:49 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    TheVentilator writes:

    It 's good we are able to have a "Diverse" sex -offender population.

  • December 29, 2007

    7:50 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    BirdonaWire writes:

    The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!, eh? Or should I say? la manzana no cae lejos del árbol! nice gene pool.

  • December 29, 2007

    8:18 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    grace writes:

    Why were convicted, illegal immigrant, sex offenders turned loose in the US? Nowhere in this story did I read that this "dynamic duo" were deported after they had served their sentences!

  • December 29, 2007

    8:36 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    floyd2200 writes:

    Let see here, I guess all sex offenders are illegals? Shouldn't we send all sex predators back to their country of familial origins. Europe would be bursting at the seams. The idea is to get these perverts off the street, out of the ministries and churches, protect our kids and not further congressmen's lifestyles. I'm glad three predators are off the street regardless of what national background they might be.
    So everybody dose their morning eggs with a little salsa, heat up another tortilla and let's think about where these product originated. xoxoxo

  • December 29, 2007

    8:47 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Brockage writes:

    Good news -- not just that some slime got cleaned up, but more, that ICE is now on the radar of the media, and we can all follow more easily efforts to expunge the low-lifes that have crept into our beautiful country in order to spread their contagion. It starts with three; the gods willing, many more are to come.

  • December 29, 2007

    9:53 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    BirdonaWire writes:

    Those French people kidnapping African kids just got 6 years hard labor. There is an idea!!! Make them pay for their crimes and THEN deport them. At least the cost to house/feed them will be offset.

  • December 29, 2007

    10:55 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    snow writes:

    It's insane these two molesters are still here after convictions, but that is the policy flaw of not having law enforcement being "allowed" to ask about status, sanctuary cities try to hide the truth but it can be read in the paper everyday, quit crippling law enforcement, liberals should wake up to reality!

  • December 29, 2007

    11:19 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    teacher5000 writes:

    Librals should wake up to reality? Is George Bush a liberal, he is the one proposing amnesty? Was Ronald Regan a liberal when he granted amnesty? I can't think of ANYONE, libral or conservative who wants these two monsters on the streets!

    Make them pay for their crimes and then deport them. Great idea, except that until the boarder is secure they will come back! With our government diverting funds to the war in Iraq and the War on Terror I am not sure how much is left over to do the job.

    Also, most Americans agree that something needs to be done, but directing all your energy toward hating illegal immigrants will not accomplish much. What about the employers who give them jobs?

    I think the reason Bushy and friends want to keep it easy to cross the boarder is becasue they are good for buisness. They work cheap, sort of like slaves.

    Illegal immigration does not benefit Mexican citizens or U.S. citizens, it benefits U.S. comapanies.

    Before, you say Mexicans do benefit let me explain. Mexico needs a revolution, they need to overthrow their government, kick start their economy and take care of their own. How can they do that when a large portion of their work force is up here? Bottom line is many of these people hold alligences to Mexico, not America, they would rather be home, but if the jobs are here they will continue to come.

    Channel your anger into something constructive.

  • December 29, 2007

    10:26 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    ONEman writes:

    Teacher you are so right, I love the way you don't pick sides or bash anyone else. You simply try to educate and plead for people to think before they speak. Your the reason I've always had an immense amount of respect for teachers. Especially since teachers spend the most time with our kids. Keep up the good work.

    Could you please tutor Q he is so hung up on criticizing others spelling and really he has his own flaws with an obvious 8th grade education at best. I mean who can't spell to or enough? And your an American so what's your excuse?

  • December 29, 2007

    10:39 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    ONEman writes:

    If I may quote you from another blog:

    The kicker is that if terrorists want to enter America all they have to do is come over the Mexican boarder, although they will probably have some trouble entering Mexico illegally (they shoot first and ask questions later).

    Just so nobody jumps down my throat. I believe the boarder should be sealed. But, you can't take the actions of these two men as indicative of everyone from Mexico, here legally or illegally!

  • December 30, 2007

    4:56 a.m.

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    dlc1456 writes:

    Living in a state that just passed the toughest immigration laws in the country I would like to say that first, that if we don't address the issue of sealing our borders, both North and South, anything done to deport anyone is a waste of time and money. We have the cart before the horse. It's just a revolving door. There are alot of reasons to close our borders as you all have pointed out. I think that our first line of busisness should be to convince the polititions to take action now.

  • December 30, 2007

    10:31 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    American100 writes:

    NM, AZ and a couple of other states are ENFORCING laws that punish employers and landlords who hire/rent to illegals. In those states they are seeing a new and wonderful trend call SELF DEPORTATION.

    With the economy in a low and American sentiment no longer in their favor, some illegals are heading on home.

    That tells me that enforcing the laws makes an impact. As individuals we need to start making the calls when we know there are illegals in certain businesses and schools.

    The website is http://www.ice.gov/

    1-866-347-2423.

    Illegals have come here, have seen civilization and have been educated. They need to take these skills back to Mexico and make it a place worth living.