I.C.E. and C.B.P. News Releases
I.C.E. News Releases
10/22/2020
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX
CHILD EXPLOITATION
Former Southeast Texas elementary teacher admits to explicit sexual conversations with minors
Lazaro Benito Rocha, 27, a resident of Odom, Texas, admitted Oct. 22 that he had responded to an ad on Craigslist advertising a “good time” with a teenage girl. He continued communicating with whom he thought was a 14-year-old female, which soon escalated into conversations of an explicit sexual nature via text messaging.
10/21/2020
WASHINGTON, DC
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AND COMMERCIAL FRAUD
IPR Center, National Crime Prevention Council launch nationwide campaign to raise awareness on illicit vapor products
The awareness campaign will educate the public on the consequences of counterfeit and other black-market vapor products and provide tools and resources to report illegal sales to law enforcement. The campaign will include social media, digital resources, and a toolkit to help inform adult consumers about the additional risks associated with suspect vapor products.
10/21/2020
WASHINGTON, DC
ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL
ICE implements July 23, 2019 expedited removal designation
ICE can now expedite the removal of certain aliens thanks to a recent order issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, Sept. 30, 2020.
10/21/2020
WASHINGTON, DC
STUDENT AND EXCHANGE VISITOR PROGRAM
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ICE arrests 15 nonimmigrant students for OPT-related fraud
The agency will continue to vet students who gained new employment through OPT for compliance with their nonimmigrant status. Any identified leads will be reviewed for potential future enforcement.
10/20/2020
WASHINGTON, DC
HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING
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DHS launches new center for countering human trafficking
The center will be staffed with law enforcement officials from HSI and across DHS, as well as subject matter experts and support staff from 16 DHS components – all focused on the “4 Ps” of the center’s mission: prevention, protection, prosecution and partnerships.
10/20/2020
NEW YORK, NY
ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL
New York's sanctuary city policy leads to increased ICE activity, dozens of arrests throughout metropolitan area
The nationwide, weeklong immigration enforcement activity, which concluded Oct. 9, focused on targeting and arresting individuals in sanctuary cities.
10/19/2020
BRASÍLIA, BRAZIL
HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING
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ICE, Brazil Federal Police partnership lead to arrest of human smuggler
This is a joint Government of Brazil-ICE investigation with significant support from the ICE Biometric Identification Transnational Migration Alert Program (BITMAP) program and Interpol Brasilia.
10/16/2020
WASHINGTON, DC
ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL
Prince William County ignores federal criminal warrant under new noncooperation policy
On Sept. 28, the Prince William County Police Department arrested Edras Onel Vasquez Perez, 25, an unlawfully present Honduran national, for assault on a family member. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged an immigration detainer for Vazquez with the PWMRADC.
10/16/2020
WASHINGTON, DC
ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL
DHS, ICE announce arrests of 23 at-large aliens in sanctuary jurisdictions in the National Capital Region
ICE officers assigned to field offices in Baltimore and Washington D.C. conducted the enforcement actions Oct. 3 through Oct. 9.
10/16/2020
DENVER, CO
ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL
ICE arrests 25 during week-long statewide sanctuary enforcement operation in Colorado
ICE’s enforcement operation, which took place Oct. 5 – 9, targeted aliens subject to removal who were arrested for crimes but were released by state or local law enforcement agencies, despite having active immigration detainers in place.
10/16/2020
WASHINGTON, DC
ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL
DHS, ICE announce arrests of more than 170 at-large aliens in sanctuary jurisdictions
ICE officers assigned to field offices in Seattle, Denver, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington D.C. conducted the enforcement actions Oct. 3 through Oct. 9.
10/13/2020
HOUSTON, TX
CHILD EXPLOITATION
Southeast Texas man sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for distributing, possessing child pornography
Marcus Ryan Howell, a resident of Lake Jackson, Texas, was sentenced Oct. 13 in the Southern District of Texas to 151 months in federal prison for two counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
10/09/2020
FAYETTEVILLE, AR
NARCOTICS
ICE HSI investigation leads to 25-year sentence for drug trafficking leader
Marion Wise, of Cave Springs, Arkansas, was sentenced to 300 months followed by five years of supervised release. Wise is the last member of 25 individuals sentenced for their roles in a heroin and methamphetamine trafficking ring that operated in Benton and Washington Counties in Arkansas, and in California, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arizona, and Mexico.
10/09/2020
SEATTLE, WA
FIREARMS, AMMUNITION AND EXPLOSIVES
Felon sentenced to more than 5 years in prison for arsenal of 'ghost guns' and smuggled silencers following ICE investigation
According to records filed in the case, in December 2019 CBP inspected a package from China that was labeled “aluminum tubes.” The package, addressed to Brasfield, actually contained five firearm silencers, which are illegal to possess under federal law. In February 2020, agents executed a search warrant at Brasfield’s residence and seized numerous home manufactured firearms that did not contain serial numbers. These ‘ghost guns’ are illegal for Brasfield to possess. Further, Brasfield illegally possessed more than 300 pounds of ammunition. Agents also seized the gun manufacturing equipment known as a ‘ghost gunner.’ Ten illegal silencers were also seized.
10/09/2020
PHOENIX, AZ
ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL
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ICE removes Honduran national wanted for murder
Jose Elias Jovel-Castro, 38, is a citizen of Honduras who has repeatedly violated the nation’s immigration laws. Jovel-Castro has a lengthy criminal history that includes convictions for driving under the influence, assault-domestic violence, and multiple federal convictions, dating back to 2007, related to false documents and illegal reentry.
10/08/2020
LAREDO, TX
CONTRABAND
Mexican drug smuggler sentenced for his role in conspiring to import 100% pure meth
A 43-year-old Mexican national was sentenced to federal prison Oct. 8, after he admitted to conspiring with others to import approximately 25 kilograms of 100% pure methamphetamine from Mexico.
10/08/2020
LAREDO, TX
CONTRABAND
Mexican man sentenced for conspiring to import more than 8.8 kilograms of cocaine
On Oct. 8, U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana sentenced Omar Jaime Flores, 42, from Monterrey, Mexico, to 36 months in prison. In imposing the sentence, the court noted he was a border crosser and now will be forever banned from the United States. Flores pleaded guilty to the charges Dec. 2, 2019. During the course of the investigation, ICE HSI learned that Flores is a not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings after serving his sentence.
10/08/2020
CHICAGO, IL
HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING
Suburban Chicago couple charged with child labor trafficking
Santos Teodoro AC-Salazar, 23, and Olga Choc Laj, 30, both of Aurora, Illinois, are charged with using force, threats of force and threatening abuse of the law and legal process in order to force the minor female to comply.
10/08/2020
NEW YORK, NY
FINANCIAL CRIMES
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Department of State offers $5M reward for information leading to arrest, conviction of former Venezuelan government official on ICE Most Wanted List
“HSI New York’s El Dorado Task Force is uniquely qualified to investigate complex, international money laundering and other serious financial crimes. Working with our law enforcement partners around the country and around the world, we will continue to safeguard our financial systems from international corruption that enriches the coffers of dictators and their cronies. This designation is a clear message – corruption stops at our border,” said Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director Tony H. Pham.
10/08/2020
BALTIMORE, MD
CHILD EXPLOITATION
Sex offender sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for production of child pornography
U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow today sentenced John Wright III, age 36, of Edgewood, Maryland, to 30 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for production of child pornography.
10/07/2020
HOUSTON, TX
HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING
ICE, local law enforcement agencies announce results of operation targeting sex trafficking
The operation dubbed “Operation Patriot” targeted sex trafficking organizations and sex buyers from Sept. 9 – 16.
10/07/2020
NEW YORK, NY
ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL
ICE arrests alleged Mexican street gang leader
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) officers took custody of Fernando Olea-Prado, 25, a self-described leader of the Sureños (Sur 13) street gang, in Corona, New York, Oct. 1.
10/07/2020
WASHINGTON, DC
ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL
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DHS announces ICE enforcement actions on criminal aliens released due to California sanctuary policies
The ICE enforcement actions, which took place Sept. 28 to Oct 2, targeted aliens subject to removal who were arrested for crimes but were released by state or local law enforcement agencies, despite having active immigration detainers in place. Over 95% percent of those aliens arrested, had criminal convictions or pending criminal charges at the time of arrest.
10/02/2020
PHILADELPHIA, PA
NATIONAL SECURITY
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ICE launches billboards in Pennsylvania featuring at-large public safety threats
“Too often sanctuary policies limiting cooperation with ICE result in significant public safety concerns,” said Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director Tony H. Pham. “ICE will continue to enforce immigration laws set forth by Congress through the efforts of the men and women of ICE to remove criminal aliens and making our communities safer.”
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