Federal agents in Washington, D.C., arrested 36-year-old David Perez‑Teofani, a noncitizen from Mexico previously convicted for attempting to sexually assault a child, as part of a crackdown on serious crime. The arrest occurred near the National Mall and drew swift reaction from federal authorities.
NBC Washington captured the moment Perez‑Teofani turned himself in, attempting to flee before being tackled by agents. As he was detained, he cried out in Spanish, “I don’t owe anything! I don’t owe anything! Please! I’m not a criminal! I work here! I want to be with my family!”
Perez‑Teofani, who has entered the U.S. illegally at least three times and is under deportation order, was previously arrested in Fairfax County, Virginia, in January of the prior year on child sex assault charges that were later dropped. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed the arrest.
Officials applauded the arrest as a success of the Trump administration’s safety-focused policies in D.C. The Department of Homeland Security said, “Glad he is off of Washington D.C.’s streets thanks to President Trump, Secretary Noem, and ICE.” White House statements noted that over 550 dangerous criminals have been removed from the nation’s capital, citing a significant portion as illegal aliens.
The arrest comes amid a federal takeover of the D.C. police department in response to a surge in violent crime—an approach touted by the administration as delivering results. Federal agents and D.C. police have removed hundreds of violent offenders from city streets, signaling a determined effort to restore law and order.