I.C.E. Top Stories: Last Week


05/31/2017

NEW YORK, NY

FINANCIAL CRIMES

Alleged Street Boss and Underboss of La Cosa Nostra Family charged with murder and racketeering
The entire administration of the Luchese Family, as well as the captains, soldiers and associates, 19 members in total, are being charged with racketeering, murder, narcotics and firearms offenses. The superseding indictment announced Wednesday stems from a joint investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York, the FBI, the New York Police Department (NYPD) and the Waterfront Commission of the New York Harbor.



05/31/2017

NEWARK, NJ

ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL

ICE arrests Mexican, Honduran nationals after New Jersey County declines detainers
On April 14, 2016, ICE lodged an immigration detainer on Elder Antonio Quintero Rodriguez, a Honduran citizen. On May 19, 2017, the facility released him from custody without notifying ICE. Quintero Rodriguez has a felony conviction of endangering abuse; the neglect of a child. On April 21, 2017, ICE lodged an immigration detainer on Rolando Herrera Saavedra, a Mexican citizen. On April 29, 2017, the facility released him from custody without notifying ICE. Herrera Saavedra is currently facing state criminal charges.



05/31/2017

NEW YORK, NY

ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL

ICE arrests registered sex offender released on an active detainer
Andres Flores Lopez, 36, entered the United States without inspection at an unknown date and location. His two misdemeanor convictions are from December 2012 and May 2014.



05/31/2017

NEW YORK, NY

NARCOTICS


25 charged in NY-area drug trafficking, robbery and firearms investigation
Two indictments were unsealed charging 25 defendants with a variety of narcotics, firearms, and robbery-related offenses. Of the 25 defendants, 21 are associated with a drug-distribution organization operating primarily in the Hunts Point neighborhood in the Bronx and are charged in United States v. Hector Palermo, et al. (Palermo Indictment).



05/31/2017

DALLAS, TX

ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL

ICE deports former Colombian army commander wanted for human rights crimes
Retired Lt. Col. Hector Alejandro Cabuya de León, 52, was the commander of the Pantano de Vargas Battalion of the Colombian Army in 2002 and 2003. He is wanted in his native country on criminal charges for forced disappearance, homicide of a protected person, and weapons and ammunition trafficking.

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




I.C.E. News Releases


06/05/2017

ORLANDO, FL

ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL

Jamaican man indicted for felony assault, threatening to kill federal official
According to court documents, Oniel Christopher Russell, a/k/a OG Russell, 39, an illegally present Jamaica national, threatened to kill an employee of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services by phone in October 2016 after posting a video of himself called “cop killer” on YouTube. Prior to this incident, Russell had previously been found in possession of a Ruger firearm by deputies with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in August 2013. It is a felony for an illegally present foreign national to possess a firearm.



06/05/2017

ORLANDO, FL



ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL


Twice deported Mexican felon indicted for illegally re-entering US
According to court documents, Luis Bernardo Gonzalez-Martinez, 29, was convicted of burglary May 26, 2009. He was removed from the United States in June 2012 and again in June 2013. On April 1, 2017, immigration officers encountered Gonzalez-Martinez, a member of the Sureños (Sur 13) street gang, back in the United States illegally.



06/02/2017

DALTON, GA



OPERATIONAL


ICE HSI Dalton small in numbers, big in experience
An industrial town, Dalton is commonly referred to as the “Carpet Capital of the World” or the “First Lady of Carpet.” It is home to several carpet and flooring industry corporations such as Mohawk, Shaw Industries and Engineered Floors, among others. In the 1970s, Dalton had more millionaires per capita than any other city in the United States.



06/02/2017

BUFFALO, NY



OPERATIONAL


HSI BEST Massena plays key role in major drug arrests
The New York Attorney General’s Office announced Friday the indictment of 106 individuals charged with conspiring in two major drug trafficking organizations that transported heroin, fentanyl and crack and powder cocaine to the area.




06/01/2017

ADELANTO, CA



ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL


ICE detainee passes away en route to Victorville hospital
Consistent with the agency’s protocols, the appropriate state health and local law enforcement agencies have been notified about the death, as have the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility.



05/31/2017

NEW YORK, NY



FINANCIAL CRIMES


Alleged Street Boss and Underboss of La Cosa Nostra Family charged with murder and racketeering
The entire administration of the Luchese Family, as well as the captains, soldiers and associates, 19 members in total, are being charged with racketeering, murder, narcotics and firearms offenses. The superseding indictment announced Wednesday stems from a joint investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York, the FBI, the New York Police Department (NYPD) and the Waterfront Commission of the New York Harbor.



05/31/2017

NEWARK, NJ



ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL


ICE arrests Mexican, Honduran nationals after New Jersey County declines detainers
On April 14, 2016, ICE lodged an immigration detainer on Elder Antonio Quintero Rodriguez, a Honduran citizen. On May 19, 2017, the facility released him from custody without notifying ICE. Quintero Rodriguez has a felony conviction of endangering abuse; the neglect of a child. On April 21, 2017, ICE lodged an immigration detainer on Rolando Herrera Saavedra, a Mexican citizen. On April 29, 2017, the facility released him from custody without notifying ICE. Herrera Saavedra is currently facing state criminal charges.



05/31/2017

SALT LAKE CITY, UT



NARCOTICS


6 members of an international drug trafficking organization indicted in Utah for their roles in manufacturing fake prescriptions drugs with fentanyl
The following six individuals are charged in this superseding indictment: Aaron Michael Shamo, 27, of Cottonwood Heights, Utah; Drew Wilson Crandall, 30, of Brisbane, Australia; Alexandrya Marie Tonge, 25, and Katherine Lauren Ann Bustin, 26, both of South Jordan, Utah; and Mario Anthony Noble, 28, and Sean Michael Gygi, 27, both of Midvale, Utah.




05/31/2017

NEW YORK, NY



ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL


ICE arrests registered sex offender released on an active detainer
Andres Flores Lopez, 36, entered the United States without inspection at an unknown date and location. His two misdemeanor convictions are from December 2012 and May 2014.



05/31/2017

SANTA ANA, CA



HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING


Pimp pleads guilty to federal sex trafficking charge involving young woman forced to work as prostitute in Los Angeles area
Lawrence T. Gunn Jr., 33, whose last known residence was in Woodland Hills, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion.



05/31/2017

NEW YORK, NY



NARCOTICS


25 charged in NY-area drug trafficking, robbery and firearms investigation
Two indictments were unsealed charging 25 defendants with a variety of narcotics, firearms, and robbery-related offenses. Of the 25 defendants, 21 are associated with a drug-distribution organization operating primarily in the Hunts Point neighborhood in the Bronx and are charged in United States v. Hector Palermo, et al. (Palermo Indictment).



05/31/2017

DALLAS, TX



ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL


ICE deports former Colombian army commander wanted for human rights crimes
Retired Lt. Col. Hector Alejandro Cabuya de León, 52, was the commander of the Pantano de Vargas Battalion of the Colombian Army in 2002 and 2003. He is wanted in his native country on criminal charges for forced disappearance, homicide of a protected person, and weapons and ammunition trafficking.




05/25/2017

DENVER, CO



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Ohio man sentenced in Colorado to 18 years in federal prison for enticing a minor victim to produce child pornography
Rande Brian Isabella, 60, of Hubbard, Ohio, was indicted by a federal grand jury May 20, 2014. On Oct. 7, 2016, following a 11-day jury trial, he was convicted of coercing and enticing a minor, and one count of attempting to produce child pornography.



05/25/2017

TULSA, OK



ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL


ICE Tulsa officers arrest 22 criminal aliens during 6-week local operation
Officers from the ERO Tulsa office arrested 22 criminal aliens and immigration violators during a six-week operation ending May 16. Those arrested are from the following countries: Mexico (16), Guatemala (5) and Turkey (1).



05/25/2017

NEW YORK, NY



ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL


ICE operation targeting criminal aliens, immigration violators nets 186 arrests across Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware
A total of 186 foreign nationals were arrested over the last 10 days in the states of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Delaware during a targeted enforcement operation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) aimed at criminal aliens, immigration fugitives, re-entrants, and other immigration violators.



05/25/2017

LOS ANGELES, CA



DOCUMENT AND BENEFIT FRAUD


US files 9 lawsuits seeking forfeiture of properties worth over $30 million allegedly bought with proceeds of EB-5 visa fraud scheme
The lawsuits seek the forfeiture of nine properties: a commercial property in the City of Industry valued at over $3 million; five residences in the cities of Rancho Cucamonga, Arcadia (worth approximately $4 million), Diamond Bar, Riverside and Duarte (valued at $5.5 million); and parcels of land located in Ontario, Indio (worth nearly $6 million) and Rancho Cucamonga (valued at more than $7.7 million).




05/25/2017

LOS ANGELES, CA



ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL


ICE arrests nearly 200 in Los Angeles-area operation targeting criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants, and immigration fugitives
The just concluded operation targeted public safety threats, such as convicted criminal aliens and individuals who have violated our nation’s immigration laws, including individuals who re-entered the country after being removed, and immigration fugitives ordered deported by federal immigration judges.



05/25/2017

LUBBOCK, TX



NARCOTICS


7 West Texas drug trafficking suspects arrested on federal drug conspiracy charges
Six of the seven charged defendants were arrested early Tuesday in an operation led by the following law enforcement agencies: Texas Department of Public Safety; U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Levelland (Texas) Police Department; the Cochran County Sheriff’s Office; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; as well as the New Mexico State Police Tactical Team; Roosevelt County (New Mexico) Sheriff’s Office; and the Region V Metro Drug Task Force, based in New Mexico.



05/25/2017

FORT WORTH, TX



CHILD EXPLOITATION


North Texas man convicted of attempting to entice a minor
Marquis Konrad Streaty, 32, of Arlington, Texas, was convicted Wednesday on one count of enticing a child. The offense carries a penalty of not less than 10 years and up to life in federal prison.



05/23/2017

DALLAS, TX



DOCUMENT AND BENEFIT FRAUD


Former North Texas independent school district executive director of human resources pleads guilty to conspiracy to falsify immigration documents
Victor Leos, 63, of Garland, Texas, faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is set for Aug. 28, 2017.




05/23/2017

MIAMI, FL



HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATORS


ICE removes Serbian man who allegedly participated in Bosnian genocide
Srdjan Bilic, 44, departed Miami International Airport Monday morning escorted by ERO officers and arrived Tuesday morning at Nikola Tesla Airport in Belgrade, Serbia, where he was transferred into the custody of Serbian law enforcement.



05/23/2017

LOS ANGELES, CA



COUNTER PROLIFERATION INVESTIGATION UNIT


Los Angeles-area woman arrested on federal charges alleging a scheme to smuggle restricted space communications technology to China
Si Chen, also known as Cathy Chen, 32, is expected to be arraigned Tuesday afternoon in U.S. District Court on charges contained in an indictment that was returned by a federal grand jury April 27 and unsealed following her arrest.



05/22/2017

WESTFIELD, MA



OPERATIONAL


HSI Domestic Operations Chief inducted into Criminal Justice Hall of Fame
Bassett was one of 11 inductees in the 2017 class. The second annual ceremony honored Westfield State graduates who have excelled in their law enforcement careers and made a significant impact on a local, national or international level. Bassett was presented with a plaque from the university president, Dr. Ramon Torrecilha.



05/19/2017

SANTA ANA, CA



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Southern California man sentenced to 120 years to life in child pornography case
Ryan Michael Booth, 32, of Long Beach, was convicted by a jury in March of eight counts of oral copulation or sexual penetration with a minor 10 years or younger and five felony counts of using a minor for sex acts.




05/19/2017

WASHINGTON, DC



OPERATIONAL


ICE employees participate in National Police Week 5K
The 5K was hosted by the Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP) to honor fallen law enforcement officers by raising awareness to the sacrifices officers make every day. This year, more than 2,500 people participated in the 3.1 mile race that took runners from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and back via 3rd Street Northwest in front of the U.S. Capitol.

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