CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Elvis Jamir Cruz Ferrera, 19, entered a guilty plea Thursday for involuntarily killing 19-year-old Lauryn Leonard from Suffolk in February.
The judge said there was an overwhelming amount of evidence against Cruz Ferrera.
In court this morning, Cruz Ferrera relied on a court translator to follow court proceedings before entering a guilty plea.
According to Virginia State Police, on Feb. 19 around 6 p.m., Cruz Ferrera was in a 2008 Pontiac Vibe when he struck a 2000 Toyota Solar on Interstate 664.
Investigators say both drivers lost control and ran off the roadway, killing Leonard.
Court records show previous arrests for Cruz Ferrera that occurred before the crash, including a slew of traffic-related charges, such as reckless driving and not having a valid driver's license.
This case also fueled debate about immigration enforcement, with some pointing to his previous deportation order in 2018.
The judge said Cruz Ferrera's guilty plea could lead to his deportation, and he would not be offered parole.
According to Virginia law, the maximum penalty for a felony charge of manslaughter is 10 years.
The judge said he would recommend Cruz Ferrera serve 65% of his sentence.
Cruz Ferrera is scheduled to return back to court on Jan. 13, 2025 for a sentencing hearing. Prosecutors requested the judge allow victim impact statements to be read at that hearing.
Both families of Cruz and Leonard were inside the court room Thursday, but they declined to comment to 13News Now.