Florida Rep. Greg Steube Friday sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas demanding information on Santo Felix Cruz-Ramos, a 25-year-old illegal immigrant reportedly from Honduras.
Cruz-Ramos on charges of sexual battery in Englewood, Florida, after a woman stated to the Sheriff’s office that she had been raped.
“Thanks to Joe Biden and Alejandro Mayorkas, the world’s criminals know they can easily enter our country and terrorize our citizens. Florida is a law-and-order state. The Biden administration must answer for when this criminal illegal was released into the interior of the United States and what was known about him. As the federal representative for Charlotte County, I take seriously my responsibility to provide oversight of the Biden Administration’s Department of Homeland Security. Floridians deserve better,” said Rep. Steube.
Read: 14-Year-Old Girl Raped In Louisiana By Illegal Honduran
Given that this incident occurred in Florida’s 17th Congressional District, Rep. Steube requested the following information from DHS regarding Santo Felix Cruz-Ramos:
- Case history information, including, but not limited to, the Cruz-Ramos’ immigration history, immigration benefits applications, the alien file (A-file) or consular file (including all consular notes), and immigration detention status and history.
- Information regarding the time, date, and place of any and all of Cruz-Ramos’ entries into the United States.
- Information regarding the Cruz-Ramos’ processing by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials, including whether CBP officials were alerted to derogatory information about Cruz-Ramos and what questions were asked of him during the screening process.
- Whether U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged an immigration detainer against Cruz-Ramos.
- Whether the agency is aware of any other pending criminal charges against Cruz-Ramos.
As the Tampa Free Press reported, on Sunday, February 25, shortly after 9:00 p.m., deputies responded to a call from a woman reporting that she had been raped. She went on to say that she and the suspect were talking, and she invited him to her room for a few drinks.
The victim claims that the suspect pushed her onto the bed and forced himself on her without using a contraceptive, deputies say.
The suspect fled the scene immediately. The victim told police that the suspect was wearing a yellow jacket.
Read: Alabama Man Arrested In Murder Of His Wife Sharon Mills, Body Found In Florida 22 Years Ago
As the victim was being transported to a local hospital for treatment, deputies secured the scene and began their investigation, according to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO).
A review of security camera footage revealed the suspect, later identified as Santo Felix Cruz-Ramos, wearing the bright yellow jacket, speaking with the victim, and then following her back to her room. Cruz-Ramos is then seen running from the room toward a stairwell.
CCSO Deputies spoke with the hotel manager, who confirmed that Cruz-Ramos was a guest and provided the room number where he was staying.
The deputies approached Cruz-Ramos and two other men in the room.
Cruz-Ramos now wore a red hooded sweatshirt and stated that he had just gotten out of the shower.
Read: Georgia Rep. MTG Blasts Border, Mayorkas After Murder Of Laken Riley At UGA ‘It’s Time To Act’
During questioning, the suspect denied ever speaking with the victim, following her to her room, or having intercourse with anyone.
When confronted with the video footage, Cruz-Ramos denied that the person in the video was him and claimed that he didn’t even own a yellow jacket. At this point, he also admitted to being in the United States illegally.
The two roommates both identified Cruz-Ramos as the person in the video and confirmed that he was the owner of the yellow jacket seen in it as well. Deputies did observe the jacket in the room.
“I don’t care where you’re from. If you come to Charlotte County and you commit a crime, especially one as heinous as this, you will face consequences for that action. I want to commend the victim for her courage to come forward with this. It is not an easy to thing to do, and because she did, we can make sure that he doesn’t do this to anyone else here,” said Sheriff Bill Prummell in a statement.
Read: Drug Trafficking Murderer Who Gunned Down Maryland Woman In Ambush, Gets 50 Years
Santo Felix Cruz-Ramos was placed under arrest and transported to the Charlotte County Jail. The clothing and personal effects seen in the video were collected as evidence, and a search warrant was granted for the collection of DNA samples from his person as well.
He is being held at the Jail without bond, and Border Patrol has been contacted regarding his status.
Help support the Tampa Free Press by making any small donation by clicking here.
Android Users, Click To Download The Tampa Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter. Sign up for our free newsletter.