Illegal Alien Gets Therapy, ‘Gun Safety Course’ Instead of Jail by Virginia Sanctuary Prosecutor
Richmond, Virginia’s Democrat prosecutor gives a violent illegal alien therapy and a gun safety course in lieu of jail time—and goes on to commit murder.
New documents obtained by Restoration News show four violent illegal alien criminals were charged with murder over just two years in Richmond, Virginia, while multiple others were charged with unlawful firearm possession.
Richmond’s Democrat Sheriff Antionette Irving, who oversees a sanctuary city, refuses to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while the city’s progressive prosecutor, Colette McEachin, goes easy on gun-toting illegal aliens.
McEachin, who is seeking reelection this year, is endorsed by Abigail Spanberger, the former Democrat congresswoman now running for governor and Ghazala Hashmi, running for lieutenant governor.
Sheriff Irving confirmed she has not turned over any inmates to ICE this year, and ICE told Restoration News that Richmond does not cooperate with its officers. While Democrats push for more restrictions on law-abiding gun owners, they won’t take unlawful guns out of illegal aliens’ hands.
Prosecutor Gives Illegal Alien Ridiculous Plea Deal
Police pulled Yonathan Zelaya-Beltran over for a traffic violation on Feb. 10, 2023. Beltran failed to produce a driver’s license or identification, and a search revealed he had a concealed firearm in his pocket. He was also in possession of narcotics.
Richmond prosecutors agreed to a plea bargain for Beltran requiring him to complete community service, substance abuse treatment program, and a firearm safety course.
Court documents indicate that Beltran was made aware that the plea agreement would likely compromise “his ability to remain in or return to the United States.” Yet Beltran wasn’t deported, and it’s reprehensible that he was wasn’t charged with more serious offenses by Democrat Commonwealth’s Attorney Colette McEachin.
It’s a class 6 felony for a non-citizen to possess a firearm in Virginia, yet McEachin failed to charge Beltran with that crime. Instead, they told him to take a gun safety course and go to therapy.
On Sept. 23, 2023, Richmond’s Department of Justice Services determined Beltran’s recidivism risk was low according to their “risk-need assessment.” Clearly, they were dead wrong—and a man paid for their mistake with his life.
On Feb. 7, 2024, Beltran went on a violent robbery and shooting spree in South Richmond. He is accused of firing shots into a business on Broad Rock Blvd at 10:20 a.m., stealing money, and then fleeing.Ronaldy Moneterroso Ten minutes later and one mile down the street, he committed another robbery at the Lindo Amanecer Restaurant and Market. During the robbery, Beltran and his accomplice Ronaldy Monterroso are accused of killing a longtime restaurant employee, Marvin Ramos-Hernandez, on his 40th birthday.
Security cameras and witnesses identified the suspects as Beltran and Monterroso. Later it was discovered the duo attempted another robbery immediately after killing Hernandez.
Media reports indicate Beltran is from El Salvador. Friends of Hernandez shared concerns that Richmond’s justice system went light on him for his previous gun and drug charges in 2023 and suggested he could’ve been deported for his crimes.
Restoration News reached out to McEachin to ask why her office accepted such a weak plea deal with Beltran after his 2023 arrest. We’ve received no response.
Another Murder by Illegal Aliens in the Same Neighborhood
On Oct. 21, 2024, a 19-year-old was killed during a shooting at El Gato Sports Bar in Richmond—less than two miles from where Hernandez was killed in February.
Danilo Isaias Duarte and Darwan Fernandez-Juarez are both charged with the murder and ICE confirmed they’re both in the country illegally.
According to investigators, the victim fired a gun into the air in the parking lot. Duarte and Juarez then fired their guns at the victim who suffered two gunshot wounds to the back. Danilo Isaias DuarteDuarte and Juarez fled, and the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Another man and woman were also reportedly shot.
Duarte was previously charged in 2022 with a traffic violation and driving without a license in neighboring Henrico County. He arrived in the U.S. as a minor in 2013, making him a “dreamer” among pro-amnesty activists. Instead of getting deported, Duarte was left in Virginia to commit murder. A trial date is scheduled for Jan. 21, 2026.
According to ICE, Juarez entered the country illegally in 2018 at age 18 and ICE has a detainer lodged against him. Darwan Fernandez-JuarezA jury trial is scheduled in November. Despite being in the country for 7 years, Juarez requires an interpreter for his court hearings.
More Illegal Aliens in Richmond with Guns
Jorge Enamorado-Cruz is an illegal alien inmate currently in the Richmond city jail. He has been charged twice with unlawful possession of a firearm in Feb. 2024 and May 2025, respectively. Enamorado-Cruz was previously cited in 2023 for driving without a license and convicted for identity theft in Jan. 2025, earning him one year in jail with 6 months of that time suspended.
Jose Baca Gutierrez was another Richmond jail inmate charged with gun possession by unlawful alien and drug offenses on June 1, 2025. Gutierrez has a long rap sheet with traffic offenses, including driving without a license in 2020 and 2022. In 2023, he was cited for reckless driving after going 91 mph in a 60-mph zone. Apparently, he was let out of jail after the June 1 arrest because he was cited in Chesterfield County on Aug. 18 for driving without a license and failure to have his vehicle inspected. Gutierrez is currently awaiting court on Sept. 2.
Enri Paz Morales, a convicted felon, was also in the Richmond jail, but it appears he has been released. He was charged with multiple crimes that occurred on Apr. 5, 2025, including possession of a firearm by an illegal, drug possession, gun possession by unlawful alien, nonviolent felon possession of gun within ten years, and carrying a concealed firearm. He has a hearing scheduled for Sept. 2.
If Richmonders continue to elect soft-on-crime leaders who offer gun safety courses and therapy as remedies for violent criminals, they will never be safe. Maybe it’s time for the federal government to defund the sanctuary city of Richmond.
Victoria Manning is a Senior Investigative Researcher for Restoration News specializing in education freedom, immigration, and military issues. She is the author of Behind the Wall of Government Schools. Victoria served 8 years as an elected school board member and has a master’s degree in law. She also brings the perspective of a military spouse and mother to her reporting.
