Gustavo Lopez Almeida/Ecuador/Terroristic Threats (State Offense)

ICE New Orleans arrested Gustavo Lopez Almeida, a citizen of Ecuador and an illegal alien in the United States, based on a criminal conviction for terroristic threats under state law. According to available records, the offense involved making threats of violence that were intended to place others in sustained fear, disrupt normal activity, or coerce action through intimidation. The conduct was serious enough to meet the statutory threshold for a felony offense rather than a lesser harassment or disorderly conduct charge.

Terroristic threats statutes typically penalize statements or actions calculated to terrorize, cause evacuations or lockdowns, or create a substantial risk of public disruption. Prosecutors generally prove these cases through corroborated witness accounts, recorded messages, or other evidence showing that the threat was communicated and perceived as credible. Courts often impose custodial sentences, probation terms, and protective orders, and may require counseling or treatment conditions tailored to the underlying conduct. Lopez Almeida’s conviction reflects judicial findings that his statements crossed the line from protected speech into criminal threats.

Following adjudication of the case, immigration authorities assumed custody. Lopez Almeida remains detained while removal proceedings move forward in immigration court. As a noncitizen with a qualifying criminal conviction and no lawful status, he is subject to removal under federal immigration statutes. If ordered removed, he will be returned to Ecuador after identity verification and travel documentation are completed with the receiving government. Until those administrative steps are finalized, he will remain in immigration detention pursuant to the governing custody determination and standard transport protocols.