Top Stories: Last Week


12/09/2016

FAIRBANKS, AK

CHILD EXPLOITATION


Fugitive child predator on ICE’s top 10 most wanted list captured in Alaska
San Francisco HSI special agents began investigating Trask in March 2012 after he allegedly downloaded a video of child pornography though a peer-to-peer (P2P) network using an internet protocol (IP) address that traced back to his San Francisco residence. On May 1, 2012, HSI executed a federal search warrant at Trask's residence. Within a week of the search, Trask quit his job and relocated to San Diego, advising HSI he was staying with family who resided there.



12/08/2016

WASHINGTON, DC

STUDENT AND EXCHANGE VISITOR PROGRAM


ICE publishes quarterly international student data
The report, released Thursday by SEVP, highlights November 2016 data from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), a web-based system that includes information about international students, exchange visitors and their dependents while they are in the United States.



12/07/2016

SAN JUAN, P.R.

CULTURAL PROPERTY, ART AND ANTIQUITIES INVESTIGATIONS


ICE returns 23 pre-Columbian artifacts to Dominican Republic
The 23 pre-Columbian artifacts were presented at the headquarters of the Ministry of Culture in Dominican Republic during an activity chaired by the United States ambassador, the Minister of Culture Pedro Vergés Cimán and the HSI Special Agent in Charge in Charge in Puerto Rico, Ricardo Mayoral.



12/07/2016

NEW ORLEANS, LA

ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL


ICE removes Honduran man wanted for homicide in his home country
Jose Daniel Garza-Cardona, 32, is wanted in his home country for homicide pursuant to a November 2009 warrant issued by a Honduran judge.




12/06/2016

KNOXVILLE, TN

OPERATIONAL


ICE computer forensics analyst proves Tennessee is the Volunteer State
Brian Wall, a computer forensics analyst with HSI Knoxville, volunteers in his off-duty time with the Sevier County Rescue Squad. On Monday, Nov. 28, he received the call that all members of the squad were needed at the fire station. Wall eagerly answered that call.

https://www.ice.gov/news/top-stories...week&created=1



I.C.E. News Releases

12/09/2016

SEATTLE, WA

DOCUMENT AND BENEFIT FRAUD


Texas scam artist indicted in Seattle for impersonating immigration officers
Alejandro Gurany, 49, of El Paso, Texas, who traveled to SeaTac and met with immigrants at an airport hotel between December 2011 and March 2015, according to court documents. At least 19 victims in Washington and Ohio have been interviewed by law enforcement, some who said they paid Gurany thousands of dollars believing he would provide them legal status in the U.S.



12/09/2016

CHARLESTON, SC



NARCOTICS


CBP, ICE HSI seize large shipment of cocaine bound for South Carolina
The shipment of cocaine originated in Cartegena, Colombia, and was ultimately destined for South Carolina. CBP and HSI discovered the cocaine as part of its regular duties pertaining to the investigation of people and goods entering the United States.



12/09/2016

WASHINGTON, DC



HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATORS


ICE honors Human Rights Day
Over the last four years, ICE's Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center has issued more than 70,350 lookouts for individuals from more than 111 countries and stopped 194 human rights violators or war crime suspects from entering the United States.



12/09/2016

FLAGSTAFF, AZ



OPERATIONAL


Location makes ICE HSI Flagstaff’s AOR a prime target for criminals
HSI Flagstaff’s Area of Responsibility (AOR) consists of more than 66,000 square miles, covering most of Northern Arizona. Like many smaller field offices, HSI Flagstaff’s large AOR requires its agents to do hours of driving when conducting various investigations. Many of those trips are collaborative efforts with the office’s state and local partners.




12/09/2016

WASHINGTON, DC



CULTURAL PROPERTY, ART AND ANTIQUITIES INVESTIGATIONS


ICE and CBP return cultural artifacts to Italy
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) repatriated a page from a 14th century manuscript and a 19th century Carelli painting to the government of Italy at a ceremony Friday at the Italian Embassy in Washington.



12/09/2016

GLYNCO, GA



OPERATIONAL


FLETC holds ribbon cutting ceremony for multipurpose conference center
The Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) in Glynco, Georgia, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the official opening of the new Building 9/12 Multi-Purpose Conference Center Thursday, December 1, 2016.



12/09/2016

FAIRBANKS, AK



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Fugitive child predator on ICE’s top 10 most wanted list captured in Alaska
San Francisco HSI special agents began investigating Trask in March 2012 after he allegedly downloaded a video of child pornography though a peer-to-peer (P2P) network using an internet protocol (IP) address that traced back to his San Francisco residence. On May 1, 2012, HSI executed a federal search warrant at Trask's residence. Within a week of the search, Trask quit his job and relocated to San Diego, advising HSI he was staying with family who resided there.



12/09/2016

PHILADELPHIA, PA



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Pennsylvania man sentenced for distribution of child pornography
Cedrick Vaughn Perkins, age 20, of Orangeville, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment on child pornography distribution charges, ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution, and to register as a sex offender.




12/08/2016

CHICAGO, IL



ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL


ICE seeks 'most wanted' fugitive, violent gang member believed to be residing in Chicago
Atanacio Arellano-Gutierrez, 29, a previously deported convicted criminal, remains at large with his last known location in Illinois. Locating and arresting Arellano-Gutierrez is an enforcement priority for ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) due to his violent criminal history.



12/08/2016

LOS ANGELES, CA



DOCUMENT AND BENEFIT FRAUD


Owner of Los Angeles immigration advocacy business charged with defrauding migrant clients
Oswaldo Rafael Cabrera, 48, owner of Coalicion Latinoamericana Internacional (CLI), is accused of 22 criminal counts, including grand theft, attempted grand theft, attempted perjury, and conspiracy to engage in the unlawful practice of law. Charges have also been filed against his wife, Maria Marcelina Rodas, 54.



12/08/2016

MCALLEN, TX



CONTRABAND


2 South Texas men sentenced to years-long federal prison terms for firearms trafficking
Dimas Rodriguez, 44, and Jose Gertudis Partida, 71, both appeared before U.S. Magistrate Micaela Alvarez Dec. 8 ordered Rodriguez and Partida to serve 70 and 30 months in federal prison, respectively.



12/08/2016

NEW YORK, NY



COUNTER PROLIFERATION INVESTIGATION UNIT


US Air Force member charged with selling military night vision equipment
Zachary Sizemore, 24, an active-duty service member of the U.S. Air Force, was arrested on the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, where he is stationed. Sizemore is charged with theft and sale without authority of night-vision devices and components stolen from the Air Force.




12/08/2016

NEW YORK, NY



NARCOTICS


4 charged in New York for drug ring conspiracy
The arrests of Victor M. Rivas, 51, of Newburgh, Edward Cardona, 33, of Newburgh, Julio A. Davila, 26, of Newburgh, Victor R. Rivas, 28, of Newburgh, and Ronald L. Matias, 35, a/k/a “Ronald Louis” stem from a narcotics conspiracy to establish a retail heroin-selling organization.



12/08/2016

NEW YORK, NY



FINANCIAL CRIMES


Bahamian national sentenced in New York to 5 years for cyber-hacking scheme
Alonzo Knowles, 23, of Freeport, Bahamas, was arrested after a meeting with an HSI undercover special agent in New York. During the meeting, Knowles attempted to sell to the special agent, in exchange for $80,000, approximately 15 movies and television scripts, sexually explicit videos of celebrities and other professionals in the entertainment and media industry that he had unlawfully obtained.



12/08/2016

WASHINGTON, DC



STUDENT AND EXCHANGE VISITOR PROGRAM


ICE publishes quarterly international student data
The report, released Thursday by SEVP, highlights November 2016 data from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), a web-based system that includes information about international students, exchange visitors and their dependents while they are in the United States.



12/08/2016

DENVER, CO



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Denver man sentenced to 21 years in federal prison for producing child pornography using a minor in his care
Michael Yellowhorse, 29, of Denver, Colorado, was charged by criminal complaint Dec. 23, 2014. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver Jan. 7, 2015. He pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge R. Brooke Jackson March 3, 2016; he was sentenced Dec. 7.




12/08/2016

LOS ANGELES, CA



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Los Angeles-area sex offender who traveled to Cambodia to sexually abuse young boys sentenced to 22 years in federal prison
Erik Leonardus Peeters, 48, of Norwalk, was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Christina A. Snyder. In addition to the prison term of nearly 22 years, Judge Snyder ordered Peeters to pay $15,000 in restitution to his victims.



12/08/2016

NEWARK, NJ



NARCOTICS


New Jersey man sentenced for trying to import more than 500 grams of heroin
Adolphus Nwokedi, 48, was previously convicted on an indictment charging him with one count of conspiring with others to import 100 grams or more of heroin.



12/07/2016

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Former South Texas parole officer sentenced to 24 years in prison for producing child pornography with toddler
Saralyn Ann Proschko, 48, of Victoria, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey to serve 288 months in federal prison. Proschko was also ordered to pay $2,537 in restitution to the victim, serve five years of supervised release after she completes her prison term, and must comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict her access to children and the internet.



12/07/2016

SAN JUAN, <acronym title="Google Page Ranking">PR</acronym>



CULTURAL PROPERTY, ART AND ANTIQUITIES INVESTIGATIONS


ICE returns 23 pre-Columbian artifacts to Dominican Republic
The 23 pre-Columbian artifacts were presented at the headquarters of the Ministry of Culture in Dominican Republic during an activity chaired by the United States ambassador, the Minister of Culture Pedro Vergés Cimán and the HSI Special Agent in Charge in Charge in Puerto Rico, Ricardo Mayoral.




12/07/2016

NEW ORLEANS, LA



ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL


ICE removes Honduran man wanted for homicide in his home country
Jose Daniel Garza-Cardona, 32, is wanted in his home country for homicide pursuant to a November 2009 warrant issued by a Honduran judge.



12/06/2016

KNOXVILLE, TN



OPERATIONAL


ICE computer forensics analyst proves Tennessee is the Volunteer State
Brian Wall, a computer forensics analyst with HSI Knoxville, volunteers in his off-duty time with the Sevier County Rescue Squad. On Monday, Nov. 28, he received the call that all members of the squad were needed at the fire station. Wall eagerly answered that call.



12/06/2016

FORT WORTH, TX



NARCOTICS


Last of 3 defendants sentenced to 2 life sentences for his role in North Texas murder in May 2013
Jesus Gerardo Ledezma-Cepeda, aka “Chuy” and “Juan Ramos,” 60, was convicted at trial in May 2016 on one count of interstate stalking and one count of conspiracy to commit murder for hire.



12/06/2016

MCALLEN, TX



FIREARMS, AMMUNITION AND EXPLOSIVES


Federal authorities arrest, charge 6 suspects for possessing hand grenades
Those arrested include Celin Javier Montoya, 23, Anthony Ozuna, 20, Alfredo Rivera, 24, and Pedro Vega, 40, all of Edinburg, Texas; Noe Gonzalez, 19, of San Juan, Texas; and Jonathan Sanchez-Torres, 19, an illegal alien from Mexico who was residing in Pharr, Texas.






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