On May 6, Mexican citizen Marcelo Soto-Luna faced the consequences of his actions, receiving a seven-month prison sentence for immigration fraud. Soto-Luna, previously convicted of child molestation, entered a guilty plea on January 14, as confirmed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Following the completion of both his state and federal sentences, Soto-Luna is set to be placed in the custody of ICE and removed from U.S. soil.
Documented evidence shows that Soto-Luna gave a false statement on an application for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program back in 2020. He denied any involvement in forced sexual conduct, despite what would later come to light. According to the ICE report, Soto-Luna faced a conviction on three counts of indecent liberties with a child in the Superior Court of North Carolina. He was handed a sentence ranging from 45 to 81 months and was furthermore required to register as a sex offender.
The crimes Soto-Luna confessed to involved a 7-year-old girl and took place on January 1, 2019. The details of the case were processed by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. Soto-Luna's egregious actions and the subsequent investigation form part of Operation False Haven. This national initiative stretches its arms wide to root out those who've both tarnished the innocence of youth and gamed the system for immigration benefits.
Operation False Haven has been active in bringing justice to cases that shock the conscience. Instances range from the vile—murder and serial rape—to the depraved—child molestation and sex trafficking. The approach spans various crimes including narcotics trafficking, money laundering, and even elder abuse. The operation, spearheaded by ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations, has demonstrated a relentless pursuit of those who conceal their maleficent pasts behind a veil of fraudulently obtained immigration benefits, as highlighted in a statement issued by ICE.
