Leonel Moreno, 27, of Venezuela was arrested again in the United States. On April 23, 2022, he illegally entered the U.S. by crossing the border in Eagle Pass, Texas, USA.
After Moreno’s arrest, he enrolled in the Alternatives to Detention program of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which allowed him to go free while officials track him until his next court date. He was supposed to show up for his court date in Miami, Florida, USA in November 2022 but he did not.
Because of this, Moreno was listed as an absconder from the program. While on the run, he lived in Columbus, Ohio, USA with his partner, who gave birth to their daughter in December 2022.
While hiding in Columbus, Moreno posted videos on TikTok and Instagram bragging about how he earned money by collecting government handouts and begging on the streets. He also encouraged other migrants in the U.S. to squat the houses of U.S. citizens.
Also from Venezuela is Jesus Alejandro Rivas-Figueroa, 15, who illegally entered the U.S. in September 2023. While staying at a temporary shelter in New York City, New York, USA, he was allegedly involved in a shooting at a park in Midtown, Manhattan, New York City on January 25, 2024 and in a gunpoint robbery in the Bronx in New York City on January 27, 2024.
On February 8, 2024, Rivas-Figueroa allegedly shot a female JD Sports Store security guard in New York City but the bullet missed and hit the left leg of Tatiele Riberio Lemos, 38, of Brazil. On February 9, 2024, U.S. Marshals arrested the Venezuelan teenager.
On February 12, 2024, Moreno asked his TikTok followers to unite to support Rivas-Figueroa. On March 29, 2024, Moreno was arrested in Gahanna, Ohio by officers with the field office of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Columbus.
Moreno was booked into the Geauga County Jail in Chardon, Ohio. He is currently detained pending further immigration proceedings.
CONAN Daily 