Thread: Arrest, seizures, drug busts, etc. for 7/19/12

I.C.E.News Release

July 18, 2012
Madison, WI

Twice-deported Mexican national in Wisconsin sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for illegally re-entering US

MADISON, Wis. – A twice-deported Mexican national was sentenced Wednesday to 15 months in prison for illegally re-entering the United States after having been previously deported. The sentence resulted from an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Reynaldo Coronado-Piedra, 33, was sentenced July 18 by U.S. District Judge Barbara B. Crabb, Western District of Wisconsin, for illegally re-entering the United States after having been deported. He pleaded guilty to the charge April 26. Re-entering the United States after being formally deported is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Coronado-Piedra was first removed from the United States Nov. 19, 2004 following a probation revocation stemming from a 2000 Texas conviction for cocaine possession. He returned to the United States without permission and was convicted in Texas in 2006 of marijuana possession. He was again removed from the United States Jan. 10, 2008 after he completed his prison sentence. He returned to the United States without permission a second time. On Sept. 8, 2009, he was convicted in Portage County, Wis., for possessing marijuana with intent to deliver.

Coronado-Piedra will again be removed to Mexico after he completes his prison sentence handed down July 18.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah Fillbach Lenzendorf, Western District of Wisconsin, prosecuted the case.


U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.

ICE is a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit www.ICE.gov. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423 or complete our tip form.

• U.S. Dept of Homeland Security

Twice-deported Mexican national in Wisconsin sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for illegally re-entering US

Local News for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

CBP Officers in Detroit Arrest Wanted Cuban Citizen
07/18/2012 05:47 PM EDT
Detroit - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations arrested a male Cuban citizen wanted out of Miami-Dade County, Fla. at the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. On July 15, at approximately 6:30 p.m., a commercial bus destined for Detroit arrived at the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. (more)

Multiple DHS Agencies in San Diego Collaborate to Intercept Maritime Smuggling Attempts
07/18/2012 05:47 PM EDT
San Diego - DHS law enforcement officials in San Diego County intercepted two maritime human smuggling attempts during the last six days involving 27 Mexican nationals.At about 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 12, harbor officials received a distress call from a disabled 20-foot pleasure craft near Point Loma that was taking on water. (more)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Seize More Than $1.3 Million in Cocaine at Roma Port of Entry
07/18/2012 05:47 PM EDT
Roma, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the International Bridge discovered cocaine valued at over $1,350,400 hidden within a Dodge Avenger.On July 16 at the Roma International Bridge, CBP officers came in contact with a 2009 Dodge Avenger being driven by a 31-year-old woman identified as a United States citizen and resident of Houston, Texas. (more)

www.ice.gov

FBI E-Mail Updates

New Orleans City Councilman Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy July 18, 2012 - New Orleans Robbery of Great Florida Bank Branch in Plantation July 18, 2012 - Miami Four Members and Associates of Newburgh Latin Kings Convicted in White Plains Federal Court of Racketeering, Witness Tampering, Narcotics Trafficking, and Related Offenses July 18, 2012 - New York AK-47 Bandit Linked to Recent Bank Robbery Near Seattle July 18, 2012 - Los Angeles Wyoming Man Sentenced for Assaulting Federal Officers July 18, 2012 - Denver www.fbi.gov

Local News for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

U.S. Border Patrol Agents In Southern Arizona Arrest Sex Offender
07/19/2012 01:17 PM EDT
Yuma, Ariz. - U.S. Border Patrol agents from Yuma Sector arrested a sex offender July 17, when agents assigned to Andrade, Calif., apprehended an El Salvadoran national entering the country illegally. Agents ran a records check through the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System and learned he had an extensive criminal history including rape, possession of a controlled substance, and was previously deported from the U. (more)

U.S. Border Patrol Agents Thwart Two Narcotic Smuggling Attempts in North County
07/19/2012 01:17 PM EDT
San Diego - U.S. Border Patrol agents prevented two drug smuggling attempts during the last five days resulting in the seizure of marijuana and heroin worth an estimated $421,860.The first smuggling attempt occurred on Thursday at approximately 4:00 p. (more)

www.ice.gov

I.C.E.News Release

July 18, 2012
McAllen, TX

Accused human smuggler transported illegal aliens by charter plane

MCALLEN, Texas – A Mexican national appeared before a U.S. magistrate judge Wednesday to face charges for allegedly harboring and transporting five illegal aliens who were discovered boarding a plane at the McAllen-Miller International Airport, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas. This case is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with the assistance of U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Border Patrol.

A federal grand jury in McAllen issued an indictment July 10 against Jorge Luis Gallegos, 39, a citizen of Mexico, charging him with four counts of harboring and transporting illegal aliens, and conspiring to do so.

According to the criminal complaint, Gallegos was arrested June 20 near the McAllen-Miller International Airport after he was observed dropping off a small group of people at the airport. During a ramp check inspection conducted by HSI and CBP, the same five people were identified as illegal aliens and were boarding a charter plane destined for San Antonio, Texas. Gallegos had allegedly, along with other individuals, picked up the illegal aliens from the Rio Grande River before taking them to several stash locations in the area. On the same day, he drove one of the aliens to the airport to purchase the flight to San Antonio for the five aliens. He then picked up all five aliens later that day from the final stash location before dropping them off at the airport.

Gallegos has been held without bond since his June 20 arrest. He will remain in custody pending trial.

Jury selection for trial is set for September before Chief U.S. District Judge Ricardo Hinojosa.

If convicted, Gallegos faces up to 10 years in federal prison on each count as well as a maximum $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Sully, Southern District of Texas, is prosecuting the case.

A complaint or indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.
ICE is a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit www.ICE.gov. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423 or complete our tip form.

• U.S. Dept of Homeland Security

Accused human smuggler transported illegal aliens by charter plane

I.C.E. News Release

July 19, 2012
Laredo, TX

2 more convicted for attempting to smuggle 652 assault rifle magazines to Mexico

LAREDO, Texas – Two Mexican nationals pleaded guilty Thursday to attempting to illegally smuggle 652 assault rifle magazines into Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas. The investigation for this case is being led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Julio Cesar Flores-Martinez, 46, and Francisco Padilla-Perez, 41, both Mexican nationals, pleaded guilty July 19 before U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana.

According to court documents, on April 19, HSI obtained information that a person, believed to be a Mexican firearms buyer, was trying to obtain high-capacity AK-47 rifle magazines from the United States. Undercover special agents posed as firearm magazine suppliers and contacted the buyer, later identified as Padilla-Perez, who requested 650 high-capacity AK-47 rifle magazines. Padilla-Perez told the special agents he would pay $19,500 cash for the rifle magazines. He then instructed special agents to deliver the magazines to a Mexican truck driver from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, who would attempt to smuggle them into Mexico via one of the international bridges in Laredo, Texas. Flores-Martinez was the truck driver.

Padilla-Perez and the undercover special agents met with Flores-Martinez. Flores-Martinez received nine black suitcases containing 652 high capacity AK-47 rifle magazines and hid them in the cab of his truck while Padilla-Perez observed from nearby. After Flores-Martinez finished loading, Padilla-Perez then handed the special agents a white plastic bag containing $19,500 in cash.

Flores-Martinez drove to the World Trade Bridge where U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers recovered the 652 high-capacity rifle magazines. The magazines are made for 7.62x39mm ammunition and designed for use with AK-47-type assault rifles. Each magazine is designed to hold 30 rounds of the rifle ammunition.

Flores-Martinez and Padilla-Perez have been in custody since their arrest, where they will remain pending sentencing at a date to be determined in the near future. They each face sentences up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

HSI is being assisted with the investigation by the following agencies: the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; CBP; the U.S. State Department; Webb County Sheriff's Office; and the Laredo Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Homero Ramirez, Southern District of Texas is prosecuting this case.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.

ICE is a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423 or complete our tip form.

U.S. Dept of Homeland Security

http://www.ice.gov/news/releases/1207/120719laredo.htm/

Local News for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Dulles CBP Officers Arrest Alleged Parental Kidnapper
07/19/2012 06:24 PM EDT
Sterling, Va. - Customs and Border Protection officers at Washington Dulles International Airport arrested a woman Saturday who has been wanted since 2001 by Los Angeles Police and the FBI for parental kidnapping.Robin Katherine Resovich, 53, of Penn Valley, Calif. (more)

CBP Officers at South Texas Port of Entry Arrest San Antonio Woman Wanted on Warrant for Firearms-Related Charge
07/19/2012 06:24 PM EDT
Eagle, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Eagle Pass port of entry on Tuesday apprehended a San Antonio woman wanted on an outstanding federal warrant for false statement during purchase of a firearm and aiding and abetting.The apprehension occurred on July 17, at Eagle Pass International Bridge. (more)

CBP Officers In Southern Arizona Seize Heroin, Coke Valued At More Than $820,000
07/19/2012 06:24 PM EDT
San Luis, Ariz. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the San Luis port of entry arrested in two men in two separate incidents for attempting to smuggle narcotics into the United States. On July 17, 30-year-old Noel Solis, a U.S. citizen living in Mexico, was arrested after Customs and Border Protection officers found nearly 33 pounds of heroin in his Dodge pickup truck during a secondary inspection. (more)

www.ice.gov