Two criminal alien fugitives, wanted for child sex offenses and other violent crimes in Southeast Texas, were apprehended on January 24 after a three-year manhunt. The arrests were made by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Houston in collaboration with the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, and other law enforcement agencies.
Jorge Dionicio Hernandez, a 33-year-old Mexican national who has illegally entered the U.S. at least four times, and Omar David Zavala, a 30-year-old previously deported Salvadoran national and documented MS-13 gang member, were captured in Houston and Mesquite, respectively. Both men have been evading authorities since 2022 and are accused of committing heinous crimes, including sexual offenses against children.
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“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 and safely remove them from the community, putting an end to the fear and lawlessness they’ve spread.”
Jorge Dionicio Hernandez
Hernandez, who has been on the run since January 2022, is currently wanted in Harris County for indecency with a child by sexual contact. He has two prior convictions for driving while intoxicated and has illegally entered the U.S. at least four times. Hernandez was previously removed to Mexico by U.S. immigration officials on three separate occasions in 2009. His repeated illegal reentries and alleged crimes have made him a high-priority target for law enforcement.
Omar David Zavala
Zavala, a documented member of the violent MS-13 gang, is wanted in Harris County for sexual assault of a child, making terroristic threats, and obstruction. He has illegally entered the U.S. at least twice and was previously deported to El Salvador in 2015. Zavala’s arrest involved assistance from 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.
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The arrests highlight the ongoing efforts of HSI Houston and its partners to combat transnational criminal activity, including human trafficking, child exploitation, and gang violence. HSI Houston’s area of responsibility covers a vast region of Southeast Texas, making collaboration with local and state agencies critical to addressing complex criminal networks.
“These arrests are a testament to the dedication and teamwork of our law enforcement partners,” said Plantz. “We will continue to pursue those who prey on our communities, especially the most vulnerable, and ensure they face justice.”
Both Hernandez and Zavala are now in custody and await further legal proceedings.
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