Thread: I.C.E. and C.B.P. News Releases 8/18/19

I.C.E. News Releases

08/16/2019

HOUSTON, TX

CHILD EXPLOITATION

Previously convicted child sex offender from Mexico sentenced to 4 years in prison for illegally reentering US
Martin Mejia Ramos, aka Ricardo Morales Rodriguez and Martin Jose Romes-Ramirez, pleaded guilty May 10, 2019, to illegally reentering the United States following an aggravated felony conviction.



08/15/2019

LONDON,UNITED KINGDOM



CULTURAL PROPERTY, ART AND ANTIQUITIES INVESTIGATIONS


Indian artifacts repatriated to home country during London ceremony
Pursuant to an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with participation from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS); the High Commission of India in London in coordination with Indian Customs; and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in New York (DANY), the limestone carved relief and Navaneetha Krishna Bronze figure from India were repatriated to their home country. On Aug. 15, the High Commissioner of India in London accepted the return of the artifacts on behalf of India.



08/15/2019

NEW YORK, NY



HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING


Mexican man extradited to the United States to face sex trafficking charges
Jose Miguel Melendez-Rojas was arrested in February 2019 in Mexico following the joint investigation, and is charged with five co-defendants: two were extradited from Mexico to the United States in October 2018, and three were previously arrested in the United States. He faces an 18-count indictment charging him with sex trafficking conspiracy, sex trafficking of minors, interstate prostitution, alien smuggling and money laundering conspiracy.



08/15/2019

CHARLOTTE, NC



ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL


ICE captures Honduran fugitive criminal alien released by Mecklenburg County despite rape and child sex offense charges
ICE arrested fugitive Oscar Pacheco-Leonardo, 33, a Honduran national, and repeat immigration violator during a targeted enforcement operation in Mecklenburg County August 9, nearly two months after the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office refused to honor an ICE detainer, or even notify ICE of the release, and instead released Mr. Pacheco’s from local criminal custody following his arrest on first-degree rape and indecent liberties with a minor charges.




08/14/2019

NEW YORK, NY



FINANCIAL CRIMES


Former vice president of Venezuela Tareck El Aissami and Venezuelan businessman Samark Lopez Bello added to ICE’s Most Wanted List for international narcotics trafficking, money laundering
ICE's HSI announced earlier this month the addition of former Venezuelan Vice President and current Minister of Industry and National Production Tareck Zaidan El Aissami Maddah and his co-conspirator, Venezuelan businessman Samark Jose Lopez Bello, to its Most Wanted list for international narcotics trafficking and money laundering. The action followed an ICE HSI New York investigation that led to their special designations as narcotics traffickers as well as sanctions imposed by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2017 and criminal charges filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York earlier this year.



08/14/2019

CHICAGO, IL



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Chicago-area man sentenced to 25 years on child pornography charges
Ronald Feder, 32, of Skokie, Illinois, offered to give child pornography to an individual he met online in exchange for what Feder thought would be access to molest the individual’s nephew and niece.



08/14/2019

WASHINGTON, DC



ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL


Peruvian fugitive wanted for armed robbery extradited
On Aug. 12, Ricardo Florencio Pelayo Vilchez was removed from the United States escorted by ERO officers. Pelayo arrived at Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima where he was transferred into the custody of Peruvian authorities.



08/14/2019

POCATELLO, ID



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Pocatello man sentenced to 100 years in prison for producing child pornography
Lex Bennett Goodwin, 34, of Pocatello, was sentenced to 100 years in federal prison for producing, transporting, and possessing child pornography, Brad Bench of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Seattle Field Office and U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today.




08/13/2019

GREENBELT, MD



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Former foreign service officer sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for production and transportation of child pornography
U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm today sentenced Steven Hadley Hassan, age 52, of Frederick, Maryland, to 40 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for sexually abusing minors to produce child pornography and transporting those images to the United States.



08/13/2019

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX



HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING


South Texas man convicted of smuggling 27 illegal aliens in the back of a tractor trailer
During the two-day trial, the jury heard testimony that on April 15, 2019, Heriberto Lerma, 42, Pharr, Texas, drove a tractor trailer into the Border Patrol Checkpoint south of Sarita shortly after 1 a.m. Lerma told agents he was traveling alone and that he was hauling building materials. However, authorities noticed the bill of lading and the seal placed on the door of the trailer did not match.



08/10/2019

SAN SALVADOR,EL SALVADOR



HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING


ICE Acting Director Matthew Albence visits El Salvador
Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Matthew Albence visited El Salvador from August 9-10, 2019. The purpose of the acting director’s visit was to discuss ICE enforcement priorities and the agency’s commitment to dismantle networks involved in human smuggling.



08/09/2019

ST, THOMAS, VI



HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING


HSI St. Thomas arrests Dominican national for alien smuggling, prostitution scheme
According to court documents unsealed Thursday, between December 2018 and August 2019, Yohanna Gonzalez-McFarlane, 38, of the Dominican Republic, operated the Underground Nightclub in St. Thomas. She recruited young foreign women and arranged to have them smuggled into the U.S. Virgin Islands to engage in prostitution while working at the bar. Gonzalez-McFarlane then housed the women at a residence in St. Thomas and required them to engage in commercial sex at the defendant’s nightclub to repay their smuggling debts.




08/09/2019

TUCSON, AZ



CHILD EXPLOITATION


ICE HSI Tucson participates in child exploitation sting
Twelve agencies participated in the operation, including ICE's HSI, Tucson Police Department, CBP, FBI, USMS, ATF, USSS, Oro Valley Police Department, Pima County Sheriff’s Department, Department of Public Safety, Pima County Attorney’s Office and the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.



08/09/2019

HOUSTON, TX



NARCOTICS


ICE HSI Houston-led investigation disrupts transnational drug-trafficking ring
Ali Khatib Haji Hassan, 49, Makame Haji Mwinyi, 49, Ernest Michael Mbwile, 35, Abdulahtif Juma Maalim, 43, Ibrahim Omary Madega, 52, Tiko Emanuel Adam, 41, Iddy Saleme Mfullu, 46, Mohammed Said Mohammed, 48, Daud Michael Vedasto, 58, all from Tanzania; Salim Omar Balouch, 36, from Iran; and Abdul Basit Jahangir, 40, from Karachi, Pakistan, were all sentenced as a result of the investigation into trafficking multiple kilograms of heroin to the United States from abroad.



08/07/2019

JACKSON, MS



WORKSITE ENFORCEMENT


ICE executes federal search warrants at multiple Mississippi locations
In addition to executing federal search warrants and seizing business records pertaining to the ongoing federal criminal investigation, deportation officers with ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in partnership with HSI detained approximately 680 removable aliens who were unlawfully working at the plants.



08/07/2019

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK



NARCOTICS


2 Oklahoma prison guards indicted for distributing methamphetamine
Micah Lynne Wascher, 36, and Travis Eugene Wascher, 42, both of Canute, Oklahoma, were correctional officers for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections at the North Fork Correctional Facility in Sayre, Oklahoma, at the time of the alleged offenses.




08/06/2019

TAMPA, FL



WORKSITE ENFORCEMENT


Master Maintenance Inc. joins the IMAGE program
The DHS E-Verify employment eligibility verification program enables employers to verify that newly hired employees are eligible to work in the United States.



08/06/2019

SACRAMENTO, CA



DOCUMENT AND BENEFIT FRAUD


Tracy California resident convicted on multiple counts of "H-1B" visa fraud, aggravated identity theft
Abhijit Prasad, 52, received multiple convictions Tuesday, including 21 counts of visa fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft from a federal jury. Prasad was previously indicted on related charges during 2016.



08/05/2019

POCATELLO, ID



NARCOTICS


Soda Springs man sentenced to 17 years in prison for running drug trafficking organization in Eastern Idaho
According to court records, Ryan Fitzgerald Dalley, 44, of Soda Springs, admitted that from September 2013 to October 2017, he acted as an organizer, supervisor or manager over at least five other individuals who conspired to distribute methamphetamine in Idaho and other states. He further admitted that he received substantial income from the sales of methamphetamine and laundered $100,000 in drug proceeds.



08/02/2019

WASHINGTON, DC



ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL


Wanted murderer removed to El Salvador
On May 10, ERO officers with the Washington field office arrested Alvaro Johel Angel Angel in Alexandria, Virginia and served him a notice to appear in immigration court. An immigration judge ordered Angel removed to El Salvador July 9.




08/01/2019

CHICAGO, IL



ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL


ICE deportation officers in Chicago remove Salvadoran wanted on terrorism charges in his home country
Pedro Juan Cruz-Cortez, 23, was flown to El Salvador July 31 on a charter flight coordinated by ICE Air Operations (IAO). Upon arrival, ERO officers transferred Cruz-Cortez to officials from El Salvador’s Civilian National Police.



08/01/2019

DETROIT, MI



HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING


Nearly 3-year manhunt ends in arrest of HSI most wanted fugitive
Darrick Bell, 50, aka Tone or Ghost, a U.S. citizen, was the subject of a nearly three-year manhunt, following the takedown of a large-scale human trafficking operation at the now-demolished Victory Inn Motel in Detroit.



07/31/2019

TAMPA, FL



ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL


ERO, OPLA leadership meet with Florida Sheriff's Association to strengthen partnerships
“Our partnerships with jurisdictions across Florida allow us to better meet our public safety enforcement mission,” said ERO Miami Acting Field Office Director Mike Meade, for the Miami Field Office of ERO. “This is an example of law enforcement working together to make communities safer by keeping criminal aliens off our streets.”

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News from CBP

August 16, 2019 | Local Media Release
Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol seizes over $1.2M worth of Narcotics

August 16, 2019 | Local Media Release
Border Patrol Agents Rescue Group of 28 from Rio Grande River

August 16, 2019 | Local Media Release
Border Patrol Agents Arrest Two at Immigration Checkpoint in Maine


More News

C.B.P. Media Releases

Media Releases from the previous administrations are available in the Archive section of our website.


Border Patrol Agents Rescue Group of 28 from Rio Grande River
Friday, August 16, 2019 | Local Media ReleaseDEL RIO, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents working with the Eagle Pass South Station marine unit rescued 28 people from the Rio Grande River, Aug. 15. Marine agents quickly maneuvered theirpatrol vessel to the group and beganassisting people out of...
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Otay Mesa CBP Officers Seize almost 4 Tons of Marijuana inside a Shipment of Jalapeño Peppers
Friday, August 16, 2019 | Local Media ReleaseSAN DIEGO – CBP officers assigned to the Otay Mesa cargo facility seized almost four tons of marijuana yesterday co-mingled in a shipment of jalapeño peppers, valued at $2.3 million “I am proud of the officers for seizing this significant...
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CBP Intercepts Stowaway in Plane at Miami International Airport
Friday, August 16, 2019 | Local Media ReleaseMIAMI – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Miami International Airport (MIA) discovered a 26-year-old Cuban man who attempted to evade detection in the belly of an aircraft arriving from Havana early Friday morning. CBP received...
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CBP Officers Seize Cocaine and Black Tar Heroin Valued More Than $628,000 at International Bridge I, Eagle Pass, Texas
Friday, August 16, 2019 | Local Media ReleaseEAGLE PASS, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry intercepted a significant load of cocaine and heroin with a combined estimated street value of more than $628,000...
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Border Patrol Welcomes Students Back to School
Friday, August 16, 2019 | Local Media ReleaseLAREDO, Texas – With a welcome back and a high-five, U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Laredo Sector Border Community Liaison Program welcomed students back to school at area elementary schools at United Independent School District. Agents were at...
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Border Patrol Agents Arrest Two at Immigration Checkpoint in Maine
Friday, August 16, 2019 | Local Media ReleaseSHERMAN, Maine- On Tuesday, August 13, U.S. Border Patrol agents conducted an immigration checkpoint along I-95. During the checkpoint operation agents identified and arrested two Mexican Nationals for violations of United States immigration laws....
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Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol seizes over $1.2M worth of Narcotics
Friday, August 16, 2019 | Local Media ReleaseEDINBURG, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents in the Rio Grande Valley Sector disrupted five narcotic smuggling attempts in the last several days. On Saturday afternoon, Fort Brown agents working near Brownsville, Texas, observed several subjects...
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New Border Wall Project Completed in San Diego
Thursday, August 15, 2019 | National Media ReleaseWASHINGTON – On August 9, 2019, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), completed construction on approximately 14 miles of new border wall system in U.S. Border Patrol’s (USBP) San...
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Border Patrol Arrests Convicted Child Rapist-Previously Deported Man Attempted to Re-enter the U.S.
Thursday, August 15, 2019 | Local Media ReleaseTUCSON, Ariz. – U.S. Border Patrol agents near Naco arrested a previously deported sex offender Wednesday. Photo Courtesy of U.S. Customs andBorder ProtectionTucson Sector Border Patrol agents from the Brian A. Terry Station arrested 37-year-old...
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Nogales CBP Officers Seize $142K of Methamphetamine
Thursday, August 15, 2019 | Local Media ReleaseTUCSON, Ariz. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, officers at the Port of Nogales seized just more than 158 pounds of methamphetamine Monday. CBP officersdiscovered 158pounds of methhidden inside of avehicle that...
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CBP Officers Find Marijuana Concealed Inside Tires at the Rainbow Bridge
Thursday, August 15, 2019 | Local Media ReleaseNIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers alongside their K-9 partner at the Rainbow Bridge discovered 48 pounds of marijuana inside a cargo van. “This is an excellent arrest that demonstrates our officers’ dedication...
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CBP Seizes Counterfeit Cameras
Thursday, August 15, 2019 | Local Media ReleaseDALLAS – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Dallas Fort Worth port of entry intercepted 4,000 counterfeit high definition cameras bearing intellectual property rights violations. CBP officers in Dallas intercepted220 boxes of...
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Border Patrol Apprehends Interpol Murder Suspect
Thursday, August 15, 2019 | Local Media ReleaseSIERRA BLANCA, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Sierra Blanca Border Patrol Station arrested a citizen of France illegally in the United States and wanted for murder by Interpol, Aug. 6. Big Bend Sector Chief Patrol Agent Matthew J...
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CBP Anuncia el Regreso del Carril Designado en el Puente Internacional Juarez-Lincoln
Thursday, August 15, 2019 | Local Media ReleaseLAREDO, Texas– La Oficina de Operaciones Aduaneras (OFO por sus siglas en inglés) de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza de los Estados Unidos (CBP) en el Puerto de Entrada de Laredo informó hoy que CBP traerá de regreso el carril designado que tanto...
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CBP Announces Return of the Designated Lane at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge
Thursday, August 15, 2019 | Local Media ReleaseLAREDO, Texas– U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Laredo Port of Entry advised today that CBP will bring back the much needed designated lane for local commuters not requiring benefits at the Juarez-...
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Philadelphia CBP Seizes Nearly $1 Million in Counterfeit Smartphones from China
Thursday, August 15, 2019 | Local Media ReleasePHILADELPHIA – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers recently seized a combined 4,449 counterfeit LG and ASUS smartphones in Philadelphia, that, if authentic, would have had a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $941,450. CBP...
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U.S. Border Patrol Arrests 10 in Munising
Thursday, August 15, 2019 | Local Media ReleaseSAULT STE. MARIE, Mich— U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Sault Ste. Marie station performed a traffic stop in Munising, Michigan resulting in the arrest of 10 individuals illegally present in the United States. On Monday, August 12, Agents...
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U.S. Border Patrol Arrests Previously Removed Alien
Thursday, August 15, 2019 | Local Media ReleasePORT CLINTON, Ohio — U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to Detroit Sector arrested a citizen of Mexico for being present in the United States after a prior removal. On July 24, Border Patrol agents from the Sandusky Bay station had placed an...
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CBP Seizes $282K Worth of Illegal Drugs
Wednesday, August 14, 2019 | Local Media ReleaseTUCSON, Ariz. – Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, officers at the Raul Hector Castro Port of Entry in Douglas prevented 2 U.S. citizens and one Mexican national from smuggling nearly 380 pounds of marijuana, heroin and meth...
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Border Patrol Rescues 12 from Rio Grande River
Wednesday, August 14, 2019 | Local Media ReleaseUS Border Patrol agents rescued agroup of 12 people stranded in theRio Grande River after attemptingto illegally enter the U.S.DEL RIO, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents working with the Eagle Pass Station Marine Unit and the Border Patrol Search...
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Border Patrol Arrests Previously Deported Child Abuser
Wednesday, August 14, 2019 | Local Media ReleaseTUCSON, Ariz. – U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested a man convicted of child abuse in Maricopa County after he re-entered the country illegally through the desert. Photo Courtesy of U.S.Customs and BorderProtectionTucson Sector Border Patrol agents...
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Border Patrol Arrests Man Wanted for Felony Assault
Wednesday, August 14, 2019 | Local Media ReleasePRESIDIO, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents, in conjunction with the Presidio Police Department, arrested two subjects, including a wanted criminal, Aug. 6. Chief Patrol Agent Matthew J. Hudak said, “This arrest highlights the success that results...
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CBP Officers Nab Meth Smuggler at Port of San Luis
Wednesday, August 14, 2019 | Local Media ReleaseTUCSON, Ariz. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, officers arrested an Arizona man for an alleged attempt to smuggle almost 62 pounds of methamphetamine through the Port of San Luis. CBP officers seized nearly 62pounds...
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Border Patrol Arrests Phoenix Man for Smuggling $78K in Meth
Wednesday, August 14, 2019 | Local Media ReleaseYUMA, Ariz. – Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents at the Interstate 8 Immigration Checkpoint arrested a U.S. citizen from Phoenix after he attempted to smuggle multiple packages of methamphetamine Friday afternoon. Border Patrol agents seized over...
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CBP Stops Attempt to Smuggle $3.4 Million worth of Counterfeit Products at LAX
Wednesday, August 14, 2019 | Local Media ReleaseLOS ANGELES— U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers assigned to Cargo Operations at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in coordination with the Import Specialist assigned to the impacted Centers, seized 5,300 counterfeit products. If...
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