I.C.E. Top Stories: Last Week 12/18/17
Top Stories: Last Week
12/14/2017
ORLANDO, FL
DOCUMENT AND BENEFIT FRAUD
Homeland Security Investigations stops Brevard County marriage fraud ring
“These criminals conspired to circumvent and exploit our nation's immigration laws for personal financial gain,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero. “This undermines the very objectives of our immigration laws and services, which are based on the honesty of the people who apply for immigration benefits.”
12/13/2017
NEW YORK, NY
ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL
ICE arrests 4 released after detainers ignored
ICE continues to prioritize its resources to enhance public safety and border security, which is demonstrated by the Fiscal Year 2017 data, which reflects that 92 percent of aliens ICE administratively arrested between January 20, 2017 and the end of FY2017, were removable aliens who had a criminal conviction or a pending criminal charge, were an ICE fugitive, or were an illegal re-entrant.
12/12/2017
NEW YORK, NY
NARCOTICS
https://www.ice.gov/profiles/ice_gov...ges/camera.png
7 members and associates of the Gambino and Bonanno crime families indicted for racketeering and related charges
The superseding indictment relates to the alleged criminal activities on Long Island, in Brooklyn, and elsewhere between January 2014 and December 2017 of the following individuals: John “Johnny Boy” Ambrosio, an acting captain in the Gambino family, Frank “Frankie Boy” Salerno, a soldier in the Bonanno family, Thomas Anzalone, Alessandro “Sandro” Damelio, Joseph Durso, Anthony Rodolico and Anthony Saladino, associates of the Gambino family.
12/12/2017
NEWARK, NJ
ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL
ICE arrests 101 in New Jersey operation targeting criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants and immigration violators
Of those arrested during the operation, which was spearheaded by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), 88 percent were convicted criminals and 80 percent of them had prior felony convictions.
12/11/2017
NEW YORK, NY
HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING
Former owner and manager of Long Island catering hall indicted for forced labor and visa fraud
Ralph Colamussi, 61, of East Northport, NY and Roberto Villanueva, 60, residing in the Philippines, are alleged to have forced immigrants to work without pay at The Thatched Cottage in Centerport. Each are being charged with conspiring to engage in forced labor of immigrants and visa fraud, as well as related substantive counts, fraud in foreign labor contracting and fraudulent inducement of aliens to enter and remain in the United States in violation of law.
https://www.ice.gov/news/top-stories...week&created=1
I.C.E. News Releases
12/18/2017
NEW YORK, NY
HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING
https://www.ice.gov/profiles/ice_gov...ges/camera.png
ICE New York trafficking investigation results in criminal conviction, victim rescued
Sean Price, 39, met the Australian teen online and encouraged her to join him in New York. The superseding indictment charged him with interstate and foreign enticement to engage in sexual activity, interstate and foreign transportation of a minor to engage in sexual activity, a Mann Act violation, and attempted sexual exploitation of a child.
12/15/2017
NEW YORK, NY
FINANCIAL CRIMES
https://www.ice.gov/profiles/ice_gov...ges/camera.png
ICE New York investigation leads to arrest of man charged with defrauding company of more than $2M
Randy Wang, 33, was arrested on charges stemming from his scheme to defraud his former employer, a company based in Manhattan that manages a global airline alliance whose members consisted of approximately 13 international airlines and their affiliates (“Company”), by incurring more than $2.2 million in unauthorized charges on the Company’s credit card account, and then making changes to the Company’s accounting system to evade detection.
12/15/2017
NEW YORK, NY
ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL
https://www.ice.gov/profiles/ice_gov...ges/camera.png
ICE removes El Salvadoran fugitive wanted for sexual assault of a minor
ERO deportation officers escorted Jose Martinez, 41, who was removed to San Salvador via an ICE Air Operations Charter flight, and transferred to the custody of El Salvadoran law enforcement authorities.
12/15/2017
NEW YORK, NY
CULTURAL PROPERTY, ART AND ANTIQUITIES INVESTIGATIONS
https://www.ice.gov/profiles/ice_gov...ges/camera.png
3 ancient statues repatriated to Lebanese Republic
Following an investigation by ICE's HSI New York’s Cultural Property, Arts and Antiquities group, in coordination with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, three marble statues originally excavated from the Temple of Eshmun in Lebanon were repatriated to their home country. The Consul General of Lebanon in New York accepted the return of the artifacts on behalf of Lebanon.
12/14/2017
ORLANDO, FL
DOCUMENT AND BENEFIT FRAUD
Homeland Security Investigations stops Brevard County marriage fraud ring
“These criminals conspired to circumvent and exploit our nation's immigration laws for personal financial gain,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero. “This undermines the very objectives of our immigration laws and services, which are based on the honesty of the people who apply for immigration benefits.”
12/14/2017
LAREDO, TX
FIREARMS, AMMUNITION AND EXPLOSIVES
Last of 6 South Texas firearms smugglers sentenced to more than 4 years in federal prison
Ruben Arnoldo Madrid, 21, from Laredo, was sentenced Dec. 14 by U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana to 51 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On June 2, 2017, Madrid pleaded guilty for his role in smuggling firearms into Mexico.
12/13/2017
FORT WORTH, TX
CHILD EXPLOITATION
Federal grand jury indicts North Texas man on producing child pornography charges
Jon Anthony Terry, 28, of Rockwall, Texas, is currently in custody on a related criminal complaint. A date has not yet been set for him to make his initial appearance.
12/13/2017
NEW YORK, NY
ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL
ICE arrests 4 released after detainers ignored
ICE continues to prioritize its resources to enhance public safety and border security, which is demonstrated by the Fiscal Year 2017 data, which reflects that 92 percent of aliens ICE administratively arrested between January 20, 2017 and the end of FY2017, were removable aliens who had a criminal conviction or a pending criminal charge, were an ICE fugitive, or were an illegal re-entrant.
12/13/2017
HARRISBURG, PA
CHILD EXPLOITATION
Pennsylvania man indicted for offenses involving the exploitation of a minor
Hakeem James Hughes, 28, allegedly coerced and enticed a minor to engage in sex acts for the purpose of making visual images of those acts in Feb. and April 2014. The two-count indictment charges Hughes with production of child pornography on separate dates.
12/13/2017
SAN ANTONIO, TX
FINANCIAL CRIMES
Federal jury convicts Texas business owner of defrauding the City of San Antonio by overcharging $500K in janitorial services
Geoffrey Comstock, 54, owner and operator of the Frio Nevado Corporation, was convicted Dec. 13 on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and six substantive counts of wire fraud.
12/12/2017
NEW YORK, NY
NARCOTICS
https://www.ice.gov/profiles/ice_gov...ges/camera.png
7 members and associates of the Gambino and Bonanno crime families indicted for racketeering and related charges
The superseding indictment relates to the alleged criminal activities on Long Island, in Brooklyn, and elsewhere between January 2014 and December 2017 of the following individuals: John “Johnny Boy” Ambrosio, an acting captain in the Gambino family, Frank “Frankie Boy” Salerno, a soldier in the Bonanno family, Thomas Anzalone, Alessandro “Sandro” Damelio, Joseph Durso, Anthony Rodolico and Anthony Saladino, associates of the Gambino family.
12/12/2017
ERIE, PA
DOCUMENT AND BENEFIT FRAUD
Pennsylvania man indicted by a federal grand jury on false visa charges
Daniel Cabanillas, 47, from Erie, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Erie, on charges of use of a false visa, following an investigation led by ICE's HSI Pittsburg and U.S. Border Patrol.
12/12/2017
CHICAGO, IL
CONTRABAND
Chicago-area man sentenced to 2 years in federal prison for producing steroid pills in his makeshift home lab
Christopher C. Hickson, 25, used bulk powders he had imported from China to manufacture anabolic steroid pills.
12/12/2017
NEWARK, NJ
ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL
ICE arrests 101 in New Jersey operation targeting criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants and immigration violators
Of those arrested during the operation, which was spearheaded by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), 88 percent were convicted criminals and 80 percent of them had prior felony convictions.
12/11/2017
NEW YORK, NY
HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING
Former owner and manager of Long Island catering hall indicted for forced labor and visa fraud
Ralph Colamussi, 61, of East Northport, NY and Roberto Villanueva, 60, residing in the Philippines, are alleged to have forced immigrants to work without pay at The Thatched Cottage in Centerport. Each are being charged with conspiring to engage in forced labor of immigrants and visa fraud, as well as related substantive counts, fraud in foreign labor contracting and fraudulent inducement of aliens to enter and remain in the United States in violation of law.
12/11/2017
CHICAGO, IL
CHILD EXPLOITATION
Chicago-area man arrested on child pornography charges while on bond for pending child pornography trial
Ronald Feder, 30, of Skokie, Illinois, was arrested Dec. 7 after he handed an undercover agent a thumb drive containing child pornography, according to a criminal complaint and affidavit filed in federal court in Chicago.
12/11/2017
ROCHESTER, NY
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATORS
Liberian national pleads guilty to federal charges
Isaac Kannah, 51, of Philadelphia, faces five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. As a result of the plea agreement, Kannah agreed that: (1) a felony of obstruction of proceedings occurred before a department or agency of the U.S.; (2) he knew of its commission; (3) he failed to notify relevant authorities; and (4) he did an affirmative act to conceal the crime. Kannah, who has been in the country since the 1990s, also agreed to the re-opening of his immigration proceedings and to leave the U.S. following the conclusion of the criminal proceedings.
12/08/2017
LOUISVILLE, KY
ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL
ICE arrests 22 in northern Kentucky during an operation targeting criminal aliens and immigration fugitives
During this operation which ended Dec. 7, ERO deportation officers made arrests in the following Kentucky cities: Covington (9), Erlanger (1), Florence (6), Newport (4) and Walton (2). Of those arrested, 20 are men; two are women.
12/08/2017
SPRINGFIELD, MO
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
Missouri man pleads guilty to counterfeit airbag scheme
Aleksey Illyuk, 28, of Ozark, Missouri, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of mail fraud and one count of smuggling goods into the United States.
12/08/2017
GRAND RAPIDS, MI
ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL
ICE arrests 27 in western Michigan operation targeting criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants and immigration violators
Criminal convictions of those arrested during the Michigan enforcement actions included, but are not limited to assault on a police officer or probation officer, larceny, assault and battery DUI, operating while intoxicated, domestic violence, disorderly person, failure to stop at the scene of an accident, public indecency, indecent exposure, retail fraud and welfare fraud.
12/08/2017
ROCHESTER, NY
NARCOTICS
https://www.ice.gov/profiles/ice_gov...ges/camera.pnghttps://www.ice.gov/profiles/ice_gov...ideocamera.png
ICE HSI, ENTERCOM partner to produce opioid awareness PSA
On Thursday, Dec. 7, a series of public services announcements (PSA) aimed at raising awareness about opioids were launched throughout upstate New York.
12/08/2017
DALLAS, TX
CHILD EXPLOITATION
North Texas woman sentenced to 60 years in federal prison for producing child pornography
Linzi Ladawn Shifflett, 29, from Cleburne, Texas, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Jane J. Boyle to 60 years in federal prison and a lifetime of supervised release for producing child pornography.
12/07/2017
NEW YORK, NY
ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL
ICE removes Albanian fugitive convicted of murder
ERO deportation officers escorted Lul Lucaj, 41, who was removed from the United States via a commercial flight. Lucaj was expected to be transferred into the custody Albanian authorities upon arrival in the capital of Tirana, however, during his layover in Rome, Italy, Lucaj was detained by Italian law enforcement authorities after it was determined he is also wanted on criminal charges in Italy.
12/06/2017
SPRINGFIELD, MO
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
Missouri woman pleads guilty to counterfeit Louis Vuitton scheme
Tonya Virtue, 33, of Mountain Grove, Missouri, waived her right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of smuggling goods into the United States.
12/05/2017
WASHINGTON, DC
OPERATIONAL
https://www.ice.gov/profiles/ice_gov...ges/camera.png
DHS announces progress in enforcing immigration laws, protecting Americans
Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced its end-of-year immigration enforcement numbers, the results of a year-long return to enforcing the law, upholding the integrity of our lawful immigration system, and keeping America safe. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2017, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported 310,531 apprehensions nationwide, 303,916 of which were along the Southwest border, underscoring the need for a physical barrier at the border.
Pages
