Thread: ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending Nov. 6, 2015

News Releases


OPERATIONAL

11/09/2015


ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending Nov. 6, 2015





November 6, 2015 – West Michigan fugitives surrender after being profiled on ICE's smartphone app to locate accused child predators

A west Michigan pair, who absconded during a federal child pornography investigation, is in custody at Calhoun County Corrections after they surrendered to local authorities. Normann Pittelkow, 42, and Nicole Jacob, 35, were the latest fugitives to be profiled late last week on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Operation Predator smartphone app, seeking public tips about at-large and unknown child predator suspects. The suspects are the targets of a federal investigation being led by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Full Story

November 3, 2015 – 235 arrested in 4-state ICE operation targeting convicted criminals

A six-day enforcement action by officers with ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) targeting potentially deportable criminals – such as convicted child sex offenders – resulted in 235 arrests across four western states, including 111 in Utah. Full Story

November 5, 2015 – ICE HSI's Border Enforcement Security Task Force disrupts a scheme to ship stolen luxury cars overseas

As a result of this 19-month investigation, HSI’s Border Enforcement Task Force (BEST), seized 249 stolen luxury cars worth more than $16 million. The high end cars include models from BMW, Mercedes Benz, and Range Rover. Full Story

November 4, 2015 – More than 4 tons of marijuana seized in DHS enforcement action outside Douglas

An enforcement action outside Douglas Monday involving multiple Department of Homeland Security agencies resulted in the seizure of more than 8,000 pounds of marijuana and the arrest of four suspects on federal drug trafficking charges. Full Story

November 4, 2015 – ICE El Paso removes fugitive father, son to Mexico for allegedly killing a man, stealing about $20,000, injuring 4 others

A Mexican father and son, wanted in their home country for aggravated homicide and other crimes, were deported Tuesday by officers with ICE’s ERO. Full Story

http://nypost.com/2015/11/08/ben-carson-features-portrait-of-him-and-jesus-in-home/
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I.C.E. News Releases


11/09/2015

WASHINGTON, DC


STUDENT AND EXCHANGE VISITOR PROGRAM


ICE announces employment authorization eligibility for certain Nepalese students
ICE announces the Secretary of Homeland Security has suspended certain regulatory requirements for F-1 nonimmigrant Nepalese students who are experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the April earthquake in Nepal. This relief applies only to students whose country of citizenship is Nepal and who were lawfully present in the United States in F-1 status on June 24, 2015, and enrolled in an institution certified by ICE’s SEVP.


11/06/2015

GRAND RAPIDS, MI



CHILD EXPLOITATION


West Michigan fugitives surrender after being profiled on ICE's smartphone app to locate accused child predators
Normann Pittelkow, 42, and Nicole Jacob, 35, were the latest fugitives to be profiled late last week on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Operation Predator smartphone app, seeking public tips about at-large and unknown child predator suspects. The suspects are the targets of a federal investigation being led by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).


11/06/2015

WASHINGTON, DC



OPERATIONAL


ICE recognized for its achievements and selfless service in numerous award categories at Secretary’s Awards Ceremony
During the ceremony, Secretary Johnson and Deputy Secretary Mayorkas honored employees for their contributions supporting law enforcement and protection activities including the 70th United Nations General Assembly and the historic visit of Pope Francis to the United States, promoting an equal and diverse work environment, and helping the Department eliminate waste and combat fraud.



11/05/2015

NEW YORK, NY



CONTRABAND


ICE HSI's Border Enforcement Security Task Force disrupts a scheme to ship stolen luxury cars overseas
As a result of this investigation, HSI’s Border Enforcement Task Force (BEST), seized 249 stolen luxury cars worth more than $16 million. The high end cars include models from BMW, Mercedes Benz, and Range Rover.


11/05/2015

BROWNSVILLE, TX



HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING


Final 3 defendants in South Texas human smuggling investigation sentenced
Ruth Fernanda Morales-Lopez, 33, of Brownsville, was sentenced Nov. 5 by U.S. District Judge Hilda Tagle to 34 months in federal prison. Judge Tagle also sentenced Esteban Castro-Medina, 41, to 18 months; Alfredo Prieto-Garcia, 44, was sentenced to 47 months for his convictions of conspiracy to bring in and transport aliens, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.


11/04/2015

NEW HAVEN, CT



HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING


Connecticut announces new multi-agency task to combat human trafficking
Committed to a victim-centric model, the task force will partner with social service agencies and organizations, including the Connecticut Department of Children and Families and the International Institute of Connecticut, which help to identify and report suspected trafficking and then provide needed support for trafficking victims.


11/04/2015

FORT MYERS, FL



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Naples man sentenced to 10 years for child pornography
According to court documents, Oct. 27, 2014, an agent with HSI conducted an online investigation into individuals who were using peer-to-peer software to share child pornography files. The agent connected with a computer belonging to Michael Eugene Read, 60, of Naples, and downloaded four videos depicting child pornography.



11/04/2015

DOUGLAS, AZ



CONTRABAND


More than 4 tons of marijuana seized in DHS enforcement action outside Douglas
“Monday’s chain of events is a testament to the unity of effort by federal law enforcement in Arizona to attack and neutralize the drug smuggling threat,” said Matthew Allen, special agent in charge of HSI Arizona.


11/04/2015

ANCHORAGE, AK



FINANCIAL CRIMES


Alaska plastic surgeon convicted of wire fraud and tax evasion
Michael Brandner, 67, was convicted following a seven-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason of the District of Alaska. According to the indictment and evidence introduced at trial, in late 2007, shortly after Brandner’s wife filed for divorce, he collected millions of dollars in marital assets and secretly drove from Tacoma, Washington, to Costa Rica.


11/04/2015

ST. LOUIS, MO



MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION


Special agent, combat veteran, mother of 3 and Bronze Star Medal recipient recounts her experience in Iraq
Wensink, a Sergeant First Class in the U.S. Army, volunteered to drive the trail vehicle in the convoy while she was serving in Iraq. Wensink explained that the trail vehicle is the last in the convoy and it maintains security and keeps the other vehicles safe.


11/04/2015

EL PASO, TX



ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL


ICE El Paso removes fugitive father, son to Mexico for allegedly killing a man, stealing about $20,000, injuring 4 others
Luis Alfonso Cantu-Maya, 48, and Luis Jesus Cantu-Garcia, 21, were turned over to Mexican authorities at the top of El Paso’s Stanton International Bridge. They face charges for aggravated homicide, aggravated assault and aggravated robbery.



11/04/2015

DALLAS, TX



HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING


North Texas 'pimp' and 'john' both convicted in child sex trafficking conspiracy involving 12-year-old female victim
The jury convicted Brady Rodriguez-Cruz, aka Marcos Antonio Rodriguez-Mejia, 33, from Irving, Texas, on one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children. Rodriguez-Cruz also pleaded guilty to one count of possessing counterfeit documents. On Oct. 22, Luis Rivera, 19, also of Irving, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children.


11/03/2015

SALT LAKE CITY, UT



ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL


235 arrested in 4-state ICE operation targeting convicted criminals
All of the foreign nationals targeted by ICE ERO officers during last week's enforcement action had prior criminal convictions. Many had criminal histories that included convictions for serious or violent offenses, such as child sex crimes and assault.


11/03/2015

EL PASO, TX



OPERATIONAL


HSI Special Agent says farewell to Zento, a military working dog who once protected U.S. military personnel, offered them solace and won the Army Commendation Medal
No one knew Zento better than U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent Patrick Strait. ICEInSight readers may remember an article highlighting Strait’s service with the U.S. Navy Military Police, as Zento’s handler.


11/03/2015

WASHINGTON, DC



OPERATIONAL


ERO Emergency Management Specialist, Army Vet runs first Marine Corps Marathon
The tears began to fill the eyes of Rich Nicorvo around the “Blue Mile” of the 40th Marine Corps Marathon course, a section that begins at mile 12, where fallen service members are commemorated along the roadway.




11/03/2015

NORFOLK, VA



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Virginia Beach man pleads guilty to distributing child pornography
According to the statement of facts, on Nov. 10, 2014, Richard Midgett, 50, used a peer-to-peer file-sharing network to distribute a computer file depicting child pornography.


11/03/2015

PHOENIX, AZ



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Arizona man sentenced to 12 years in prison for child pornography
Shane Perry Anderson, 25, pleaded guilty Sept. 21 to state charges of viewing and possessing child pornography. According to court documents, beginning in August 2013, HSI’s Cyber Crimes Center began investigating an individual with the username “Spapeoria” who was commenting on a free file sharing website.


11/02/2015

JACKSONVILLE, FL



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Florida man sentenced to more than 7 years for child pornography
According to court records, Robert Earl Rice, 48, of Neptune Beach, used his email address to trade and receive videos of child pornography. He admitted to viewing and collecting child pornography from 2012 until April 2014, and he also admitted to using search terms to find child pornography on the Internet. Rice pleaded guilty June 24, 2015.


11/02/2015

PANAMA CITY, FL



HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING


9 charged in interstate human trafficking conspiracy
A federal grand jury returned a 32-count indictment charging nine defendants, all residing in the United States illegally, in an interstate human trafficking conspiracy. The defendants are: Edegardo Osorno Rodriguez; Antonio Flores-Vargas; Jose Juan Ruiz Prudencio; Jose Alvaro Trujillo-Santiz; Rosa Mirtha Cruz Vidal; Mauro Gonzalez-Lira; Romon Tobon; Lazaro Juarez-Juarez; Emerson Corvera.



11/02/2015

FRESNO, CA



NARCOTICS


Mexican man pleads guilty to role in illegal pot grow in Sequoia National Forest
Uriel Silva-Garcia, 24, of Turicato, Michoacán, Mexico, pleaded guilty to conspiring to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana and possessing firearms in furtherance of a large-scale cultivation operation located near Little Poso Creek in the Sequoia National Forest.


11/02/2015

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Southeast Texas man pleads guilty to producing child pornography
James Peyton Busbee Jr., 30, from Victoria, Texas, pleaded guilty before Senior U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey; sentencing is set for Feb. 1. At that time, Busbee faces a minimum of 15 and up to 30 years in federal prison.


11/02/2015

WASHINGTON, DC



OPERATIONAL


ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending Oct. 30, 2015
ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending Oct. 30, 2015


10/30/2015

FRESNO, CA



CONTRABAND


4 men indicted in destructive national forest marijuana grow
A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment Thursday against Armando Arnoldo Martinez-Tinoco, 36; his brother, Juan Carlos Martinez-Tinoco, 41; and Luis Enrique Flores, 23, all of Mexico; and Ivan De Jesus Jimenez, 30, of La Puente, charging them with a conspiracy to cultivate marijuana on public land, cultivating and possessing marijuana with intent to distribute, and damaging public land and natural resources.





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D.E.A. TOP STORY

Twelve Arrested in Major Meth & Heroin Trafficking Organization
NOV 05 (SEATTLE)

A two year investigation of a major drug trafficking ring in King and Snohomish counties culminated in 12 arrests today following the unsealing of a grand jury indictment and filing of criminal complaints against two dozen defendants. Over the two years of the Drug Enforcement Administration led investigation, law enforcement seized more than 50 pounds of heroin and more than 100 pounds of methamphetamine. The organization moved significant amounts of cash as part of their trafficking. To date more than $1.6 million has been seized by law enforcement.

READ MORE MORE TOP STORIES


D.E.A. LATEST NEWS

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A.T.F. Press Releases

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 05, 2015

Darrell L. Duncan Sentenced for Being a Felon in Possession
Chicago Field Division


Watertown Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Armed Robbery
New York Field Division


Bozeman Man Convicted of Illegal Possession of an Un-Registered Machine Gun
Denver Field Division


TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 03, 2015

St. Louis County Man Sentenced for Attempted Arson in Ferguson
Kansas City Field Division


Indianapolis Man Sentenced in North Vernon Robbery and Murder Case
Columbus Field Division


Man Who Placed Improvised Explosive Device at Colorado Springs Building Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison
Denver Field Division


MONDAY, NOVEMBER 02, 2015

Massachusetts Man Sentenced to 147 Months in Federal Prison on Drug Distribution and Firearms Charges
Boston Field Division


Montana Man Sentenced to 84 Months for Unlawful Gun Possession
Seattle Field Division

Headlines News coverage of the U.S. Marshals

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	U.S. auctions last bitcoins in Silk Road prosecution
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	Man wanted since May 2014 on child sex charges arrested on east side
	Man accused of shooting in Moses Lake, arrested in Montana
	Second suspect arrested in Eclectic shooting case
	SHP, U.S. Marshals Service help DCSO in double-homicide case
	30+ Arrested in Sweep Named for Slain Officer

JUSTICE NEWS



Federal Officials Close the Investigation into the Death of Anastasio Hernandez-Rojas
Friday, November 6, 2015




Former CEO of $3 Billion TierOne Bank Convicted for Orchestrating Scheme to Hide More than $100 Million in Losses from Shareholders and Regulators
Friday, November 6, 2015




Six Convicted on Business Opportunity Fraud Charges
Friday, November 6, 2015


MORE NEWS

News from CBP

November 6, 2015 | Local Media Release
Brownsville Port of Entry CBP Officers Seize $480,760 in Cocaine at Gateway International Bridge

November 6, 2015 | Local Media Release
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November 6, 2015 | Local Media Release
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More News

I.C.E. News Release

TOP STORY

CHILD EXPLOITATION

11/09/2015


1,004 victims of child sexual exploitation identified, rescued by ICE in 2015

New technologies giving HSI special agents the tools to identify more victims, faster than ever before





WASHINGTON – More than 1,000 victims of child sexual abuse and online exploitation were identified or rescued in fiscal year 2015, as part of child exploitation investigations conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

“When a child is being sexually abused or exploited, it’s a race against time for investigators to identify and rescue that child,” said ICE Director Sarah R. Saldaña. “ICE is fully committed to conducting victim-centered investigations in which the identification, rescue, and stabilization of the victim is the first priority. When we identify a victim, more often than not we also find the perpetrator.”

HSI special agents arrested or assisted in the arrest of 2,394 child predators worldwide in 2015, in child exploitation investigations ranging from possession, production and distribution of online child pornography to child enticement and child sex tourism.

In one of the first cases of the fiscal year, a 41-year-old California man, Blake Robert Johnston, was charged federally after his arrest by the Martinez (California) Police Department for transporting a 14-year-old girl from Oregon to northern California to engage in sex. According to court documents, Johnston allegedly met this girl, and several other minor victims, in online chatrooms, groomed them online, and then sexually abused them in order to produce child pornography. More than 60 child victims who were allegedly sexually abused or exploited by Johnston have been identified in 27 states and five countries. Additionally, through this investigation, HSI identified a number of additional child predators who allegedly communicated with Johnston and traded images of child sexual exploitation material.

Using new technology to identify and rescue victims

While new technologies have exponentially increased the volume of child exploitation material being traded and produced, they are also giving investigators the tools to identify more victims, and to intervene faster than ever, according to officials at the ICE Cyber Crimes Center.

In 2015, HSI analyzed more than 7.5 petabytes – or 7,500 terabytes – of data seized during search warrants; this equals 127.5 million hours of music; 150 million file cabinets filled with documents; more than a trillion pages of text; or almost 100 years of high definition video.

More than half of that data was related to child exploitation investigations. And, every year, HSI forensic analysts see about 40 percent more data collected from search warrants than the previous year.

This staggering amount of data means that finding victims in need of rescue can be like finding a needle in a haystack. HSI special agents address this issue by using the latest technology available to help process that data, and by focusing on victim identification.

Four years ago, in 2011, ICE’s Cyber Crimes Center launched a victim identification program to improve efforts to find and safeguard victims of child pornography. Since then, ICE has expanded this capability across the agency.

In 2015, the center expanded the footprint and capabilities of its forensic and victim identification laboratories and conducted victim identification training with special agents and analysts across all of its domestic field offices.

HSI also currently participates in a major collaborative effort known as Project VIC, which is helping to create technology solutions that reduce the amount of time to forensically process data, allowing special agents to concentrate their efforts on newly identified victims and reduce the time spent viewing previously discovered explicit material.

Seized data is now being analyzed in weeks, as opposed to six to nine months.

“Project VIC promotes a victim-focused methodology, speeds the identification of child victims and reduces officer burnout,” said Maura Harty, president and CEO of the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, the program coordinator for Project VIC.

“Project VIC is very much a public-private partnership, with numerous law enforcement and other governmental entities, as well as private businesses combining forces to achieve our shared goals - there simply is no better way to help children.”

This year, as part of Project VIC, the Department of Homeland Security’s Science & Technology (S&T)Directorate’s Non-Cooperative Biometrics Program will evaluate and integrate cutting-edge technologies, such as facial recognition and text identification into current HSI forensic tools. The program is aimed specifically at technologies to aid in the fight against child sex abuse, but because those are some of the most technologically challenging cases, the program has implications for other missions as well. S&T plans to have the new tools ready for use by HSI within the next year.

These developments are having a direct effect on the number of sexually abused and exploited children being rescued and the speed with which they are found, according to investigators.

HSI’s recent efforts to safeguard and protect children have also included the use of media and social media to make public appeals to help identify and rescue children and locate suspected producers of child pornography.

Tips from the public can be reported anonymously through HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app, by phone or online, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download or visit the online suspect alerts page.

HSI cases around the country this year have also included:

• In March 2015, HSI sought the public’s help, through the media and social media, to identify an unknown child predator who was seen on video molesting an 8-year-old girl. More than 80 tips received by the HSI Tip Line helped investigators apprehend William Akers in Raleigh, North Carolina, less than 24 hours later. HSI special agents also rescued a 3-year-old child.
• In April 2015, HSI Los Angeles initiated an investigation based on a lead from law enforcement authorities in Switzerland. A search warrant executed a few months later resulted in the seizure of data that contained evidence of child pornography production involving two children, ages 6 and 14, at a Los Angeles residence. HSI arrested Francisco Tzarax and identified the two children in the videos. He is awaiting trial on state charges.
• In June 2015, Kevin Brian Keys was arrested in Michigan for sex trafficking a minor, and for production and distribution of child pornography. Prior to his arrest, a 16-year-old victim was reported missing and possibly abducted. Special agents recovered her in Minnesota in September 2014.
• In July 2015, Kevin Rebbie, a part-time children's book author, was indicted in Pennsylvania after investigators discovered he had placed a hidden camera in a bathroom to record a 15-year-old minor, who he had also sexually abused. A forensic examination of electronic media seized from Rebbie revealed 19 deleted video files of sexually explicit material involving four additional minor victims. Further investigation led to the identification of two additional victims following his arrest.
• In October 2015, HSI Columbus (Ohio) and the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force arrested Eric Chavis for conspiracy to produce child pornography. He and several co-conspirators were charged with producing pornographic rap videos which were uploaded to various social media sites. To date, HSI has identified three juvenile victims: one 16-year-old and two 17-year-olds.

These investigations were conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 14,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

HSI is a founding member and current chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.

https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/10...scued-ice-2015