Illegal Alien Sex Offender Charged in Deadly DUI Crash

Authorities say the suspect was wanted on a felony warrant in California at the time of the incident.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 8:10pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a shattered car side mirror reflecting a faint red and blue police light, creating a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic.A shattered car mirror reflects the flashing lights of police at the scene of a deadly drunk driving crash involving an illegal immigrant sex offender.Los Angeles Today

An illegal alien convicted sex offender has been arrested and charged with negligent homicide and drunk driving after allegedly causing a crash that killed an elderly Arkansas couple on a motorcycle. The suspect, Jose Luis Gomez, was wanted on a felony warrant in the sanctuary jurisdiction of Los Angeles County, California at the time of the incident.

Why it matters

This tragic case highlights the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement and the risks posed by criminal illegal aliens who are able to evade deportation, especially in sanctuary jurisdictions. It also raises questions about sentencing guidelines for sex offenders and whether more should be done to monitor and restrict the movements of violent offenders.

The details

According to police, on March 26, 70-year-old Michael Cordes and his wife, 67-year-old Freda Cordes, were riding their Harley-Davidson motorcycle when Gomez allegedly failed to yield to oncoming traffic and crashed into the couple. Michael and Freda were pronounced dead at the scene, while Gomez suffered no injuries. Following a sobriety test and blood draw, police determined that Gomez was drunk at the time of the crash. Surveillance footage confirmed that Gomez was at fault.

  • On March 26, the deadly crash occurred.
  • In 2013, Gomez was convicted of cruelty towards a child.
  • In 2016, Gomez was convicted of oral sex with a child under 16 years old.

The players

Jose Luis Gomez

A 35-year-old illegal alien convicted sex offender and child abuser who was wanted on a felony warrant in Los Angeles County, California at the time of the incident.

Michael Cordes

A 70-year-old Arkansas resident who was killed in the crash while riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

Freda Cordes

A 67-year-old Arkansas resident who was killed in the crash while riding on the back of her husband's Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

Sen. Tom Cotton

A Republican senator from Arkansas who expressed condolences for the victims' family and criticized Democrats for their 'political crusade' against immigration enforcement.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders

The Republican governor of Arkansas who praised the state police for arresting the suspect and touted her state's law to 'get these violent offenders off our streets and out of our country.'

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What they’re saying

“The tragic deaths of Freda and Michael Cordes should have never happened, and my prayers are with their family and friends. I'm grateful for the quick work of the Arkansas State Police in bringing this illegal alien criminal to face justice. The Department of Homeland Security deports violent illegal aliens just like this man to protect innocent Americans — Democrats in Washington must stop their political crusade, fund the department, and put the safety of Americans first.”

— Sen. Tom Cotton, U.S. Senator

“This tragic case highlights the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement and the risks posed by criminal illegal aliens who are able to evade deportation, especially in sanctuary jurisdictions.”

— Assistant

“I'm grateful to the Arkansas State Police for arresting this criminal and thankful that President Trump is working quickly to deport violent, criminal illegals. This is why I signed the Defense Against Criminal Illegals Act last year: to get these violent offenders off our streets and out of our country.”

— Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Governor of Arkansas

What’s next

ICE agents have lodged a detainer against Gomez, requesting that the Benton County Sheriff's Office notify them if the illegal alien is released from jail at any time.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges in balancing immigration enforcement, public safety, and the rights of undocumented immigrants, especially when it comes to monitoring and restricting the movements of convicted sex offenders and other violent criminals.