Illegal Alien from Mexico Charged with Carjacking in Orange County and with Illegally Reentering the U.S. Following Deportation

SANTA ANA, California - A twice-deported illegal immigrant from Mexico has been federally charged with carjacking a restaurant employee in Orange County last month - assaulting both the victim and her coworker who rushed to help her and nearly hitting them with the stolen vehicle - and with illegally reentering the United States, the Justice Department announced today.

Miguel Abrajan-Morales, 30, of Fullerton, is charged in a federal criminal complaint with carjacking. He also is charged in a separate federal criminal complaint with being an illegal alien found in the United States following deportation or removal.

Abrajan-Morales is in state custody at the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange. He faces a criminal charge in Orange County Superior Court of assault with a deadly weapon. He is expected to make his initial appearance on the federal charges in United States District Court in Santa Ana in the coming weeks.

According to affidavits filed with the federal complaints, during the evening of February 27, two restaurant employees were leaving work in Placentia. One victim - later identified as a woman with whom Abrajan-Morales previously had a romantic relationship - walked to her 2025 Ford Bronco and sat in the driver's seat. Unexpectedly and without her permission, Abrajan-Morales opened and entered the vehicle's front passenger seat and struck her in the face several times. To escape, the victim left the Ford Bronco from the driver's door and left the vehicle running.

The victim's coworker was entering his vehicle and witnessed the assault. To defend the victim, he ran toward the Ford Bronco and began fighting Abrajan-Morales. During this fight, Abrajan-Morales and he struck each other several times.

After the fight, Abrajan-Morales walked around to the driver's side of the Ford Bronco, sat in the driver's seat, and drove away. He nearly struck both restaurant employees with the vehicle as he exited the parking lot - colliding with a parked Honda Civic near where they were standing. Both victims - who had visible injuries - told law enforcement they believed he intentionally tried to strike them with the Ford Bronco.

On March 1, Abrajan-Morales was arrested in Ontario.

Law enforcement reviewed his immigration status and determined that Abrajan-Morales had twice been deported from the United States to Mexico in October 2016. There is no record of any application nor permission from the Secretary of Homeland Security or the United States Attorney General granting Abrajan-Morales permission to reenter the United States.

A complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.

If convicted, Abrajan-Morales would face a statutory maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison on the carjacking charge and up to two years in federal prison on the illegal reentry charge.

The Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Integrated Operations Group (IOG) and the Placentia Police Department are investigating the carjacking matter with assistance from the Ontario Police Department. IOG is a task force comprised of participation from HSI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the United States Marshals Service. HSI-OIG is investigating the illegal reentry matter.

Assistant United States Attorney Aylin B. Kuzucan of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting the carjacking case. Special Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth D. Bisland of the Domestic Security and Immigration Crimes Section is prosecuting the illegal reentry case.