OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – A man with an expired visa has been taken into federal custody after he tried to reclaim tools involved in a recent construction site theft, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO).
Natanael Topete-Perez, who had been convicted and sentenced in two felony theft cases, contacted the sheriff’s office on Monday to request the return of tools that had been recovered during investigations into thefts at construction sites.
Court records reveal that Topete-Perez was charged in connection with the theft of a lighting generator valued at least $20,000 from a Dodge County construction site in December 2023. After the generator was sold to a different seller, the rightful owner attempted to buy it back while DCSO deputies monitored the situation. When Topete-Perez arrived at the scene, deputies determined he was a suspect in the theft. He was subsequently arrested for theft or receipt of stolen property.
In addition to this incident, Topete-Perez had been previously arrested in July after DCSO deputies served a warrant at his home. Investigators had linked his vehicle to a series of thefts at another construction site in West Omaha. During the search, authorities recovered $20,000 worth of stolen property from his residence.
Despite these incidents, Topete-Perez entered a plea of “no contest” for the second case and pled guilty to lesser charges in the first case. He was sentenced on January 21 to six years of probation and community service under the supervision of District Court Judge Peter Bataillon.
However, the saga took another turn when Topete-Perez reached out to reclaim some of the tools recovered during the investigations. Unfortunately for him, instead of receiving his tools, he was met by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers who took him into custody for deportation processing.
According to DCSO’s social media post, although some of the tools recovered during the investigations were not conclusively linked to theft, Topete-Perez’s attempt to reclaim them led to his arrest. He is now facing deportation proceedings due to his expired visa.
The case highlights the ongoing efforts by local law enforcement and federal agencies to address not only theft but also individuals who are in the U.S. unlawfully.
Authorities are continuing their investigations into the stolen property cases involving Topete-Perez, and more charges may follow as additional evidence is reviewed.
