Pueblo, CO — On Thursday morning, a multi-agency operation led by the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), resulted in the arrest of Rene Alvaro Cejudo-Monicas, a known dangerous criminal with a lengthy criminal history.
The arrest took place in Fountain, Colorado, after a federal arrest warrant was issued for Cejudo-Monicas. The warrant was based on allegations that he violated immigration laws and engaged in identity fraud, using a fake New Mexico driver’s license and an alias to re-enter the United States illegally. A search warrant was also executed at his residence in Fountain, looking for evidence related to identity fraud and his unlawful entry into the country.
According to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, Cejudo-Monicas is a non-U.S. citizen who had previously been deported. He was convicted of multiple felonies before his deportation in 2012, including a 2003 conviction for sexual assault of a child, for which he was sentenced to one year in the Colorado Department of Corrections. In 2006, he was convicted of possession of Schedule 2 narcotics and sentenced to eight years in the same facility.
Sheriff Joseph Roybal, in a statement following the arrest, emphasized the importance of the collaboration between local and federal authorities in removing dangerous criminals from the streets. He pointed out that Cejudo-Monicas’ illegal re-entry into the U.S. and subsequent criminal actions were part of a broader issue with Colorado’s sanctuary laws, which limit cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE.
“This dangerous, illegal criminal is the exact reason why I have fought so hard to reverse the restrictive anti-ICE laws in Colorado,” Sheriff Roybal said. “Because of Colorado’s protective sanctuary laws, criminals—rapists, murderers, drug dealers, and gang cartel members—have flocked to our state, and are now residing in and committing crimes in our neighborhoods.”
Roybal further explained that earlier this year, he authorized his deputies to assist and cooperate with ICE to address criminality in the Pikes Peak region, aiming to improve public safety.
“I thank my deputies and our federal partners for ensuring Cejudo-Monicas is off our streets and unable to victimize again,” Roybal added. “As Sheriff, I remain committed to the efforts to reverse anti-ICE laws in Colorado and ensuring criminals—regardless of their citizenship status—are held accountable.”
The operation underscores the ongoing efforts by local law enforcement and federal agencies to protect public safety and address criminal activity, particularly when it involves individuals who have re-entered the U.S. illegally after being deported.
