I.C.E. News Release


OPERATIONAL

02/08/2016


ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending February 5, 2016







January 29, 2016 – Ohio seminary student accused of traveling to San Diego seeking sex with infants

An Ohio seminary student suspected of travelling to San Diego to have sex with multiple infants in Mexico was taken into federal custody at Lindberg Field by special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Full Story

January 29, 2016 – Long Beach youth soccer coach indicted on federal charges of possessing and distributing child pornography

An Orange County man who coached a Long Beach youth soccer team has been arraigned on a six-count federal indictment that accuses him of possessing and distributing child pornography. Full Story

February 4, 2016 – 'Operation Team Player' nets $39 million in fake sports merchandise

ICE Director Sarah R. Saldaña announced that enforcement actions led by HSI resulted in the seizure of nearly 450,000 counterfeit sports-related items worth an estimated $39 million. Full Story

February 1, 2016 – Pakistani man indicted and arrested for selling and distributing new, misbranded and counterfeit prescription drugs

A Pakistani man appeared in U.S. District Court in Denver last week on multiple charges of illegally importing and selling misbranded and unapproved drugs. Full Story

February 5, 2016 – ICE, FBI recognize International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation

Feb. 6 marked the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation. ICE and the FBI join U.S. and foreign government partners, non-governmental organizations and local communities to call for eradication of the practice. Full Story

https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ic...ebruary-5-2016

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I.C.E. News Releases

02/08/2016

TAMPA, FL

FINANCIAL CRIMES

4 convicted for international fraud, money laundering scheme involving sale of gold
Naadir Cassim, 40, of Barcelona, Spain, and Orlando; Jon Craig Nelson, 69, of Houston, Texas; Michael Skillern, 49, of Houston, Texas; and Adriana Maria Camargo, a/k/a Adriana Palomino, 37, of Barcelona, Spain; each face a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison on the conspiracy count, 20 years’ imprisonment on the money laundering conspiracy count and 20 years in prison for each mail fraud count.


02/08/2016

WASHINGTON, DC

OPERATIONAL


ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending February 5, 2016
ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending February 5, 2016


02/05/2016

WASHINGTON, DC



HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATORS


ICE, FBI recognize International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation
This day serves as an opportunity to reflect on victims who have suffered from female genital mutilation/cutting, including many women and girls who have died or suffered lifelong health complications from the practice. The day also renews a global commitment to the health and well-being of all women, girls and communities by eliminating the practice.


02/05/2016

BANGOR, ME



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Maine man sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for child pornography
Daniel Lajoie, Jr., 46, of Bowdoinham, Maine was sentenced to 57 months in prison on one count of possession of child pornography. Lajoie pleaded guilty to the charge on October 8, 2015.



02/05/2016

SALT LAKE CITY, UT



ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL


82 arrested in Utah ICE operation targeting convicted criminals
Those arrested had criminal histories that included convictions for the following crimes: driving under the influence (DUI), burglary, resisting officer, making a false report, hit and run, obstructing a police officer, forgery, damage property, cocaine possession, assault, shoplifting, narcotic equipment possession, simple assault, amphetamine possession, dangerous drugs (heroin), carrying a concealed weapon, and controlled substance distribution.


02/04/2016

SAN FRANCISCO, CA



INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS


'Operation Team Player' nets $39 million in fake sports merchandise
The results from Operation Team Player, an ongoing effort developed by the HSI-led National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) to crackdown on the illegal importation of counterfeit sports apparel and merchandise, were revealed at a press conference hosted by the NFL with participation from ICE, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Bay-area law-enforcement agencies.


02/04/2016

FRESNO, CA



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Jury convicts Fresno-area youth club director for enticement of a minor
Juan Martin Torres, 28, of Firebaugh, was found guilty on one count of enticing a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California.


02/02/2016

VICTORIA, TX



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Southeast Texas man sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for producing child pornography
James Peyton Busbee Jr., 30, was sentenced Feb. 2 to 360 months in prison by Senior U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey. At the hearing, an HSI special agent testified that Busbee used a pipe laced with methamphetamine during the assault of a child.



02/02/2016

SEATTLE, WA



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Former private school coach sentenced for secretly filming students undressing on school trips
Jason Christopher Pauer, 45, of Seattle, was arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in December 2013 at Silver Star ski area in British Columbia, Canada.


02/02/2016

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX



HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING


3 Mexican men sentenced in Southeast Texas for smuggling aliens in fishing boat
Miguel Hernandez-Maldonado, 42, Manuel Garcia-Cabrera, 40, and Luis Diaz-Tinoco, 47, all illegal aliens from Mexico, pleaded guilty to the charges Oct. 29, 2015. All three were convicted of one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens and one count of illegal re-entry after deportation.


02/02/2016

KANSAS CITY, KS



DOCUMENT AND BENEFIT FRAUD


Mother pleads guilty to ID theft to flee US with her young daughters
Samantha C. Elmer, 33, of Lawrence, Kansas, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated identity theft. In her plea she admitted she forged her husband’s signature on a document giving her consent to take their two daughters to Europe.


02/02/2016

TOPEKA, KS



HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING


Kansas woman pleads guilty to sex trafficking a minor
Tiara Jade Newman, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. In her plea, she admitted that on March 21, 2015, she and her husband, co-defendant Reginald Newman, 29, took a 17-year-old girl from Topeka to Junction City, Kansas, for the purpose of prostitution.



02/01/2016

DENVER, CO



INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS


Pakistani man indicted and arrested for selling and distributing new, misbranded and counterfeit prescription drugs
Junaid Qadir, 33, of Karachi, Pakistan, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver Aug. 22, 2012. A superseding indictment was obtained June 25, 2015. He was arrested last spring after he traveled from Pakistan to Germany, which has U.S. extradition laws.


02/01/2016

LUBBOCK, TX



NARCOTICS


12 indicted in West Texas methamphetamine distribution conspiracy
The indictment charges each of the following defendants with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine: Isabel Soto, Veronica Sanchez Lopez, Monty Fred Humble, Martin Leonard Lomas, Michael Brent Watson, Joe Louis Lara, Cruz Lee Betancur, Richard Luke Elam, Jonathon Christopher Chapa, Christopher Ray Lovington, Erica Dominguez.


02/01/2016

LOS ANGELES, CA



CONTRABAND


13 charged after interdiction of panga carrying nearly 3,000 pounds of marijuana near Santa Barbara
The 13 defendants, who are named in a criminal complaint filed Sunday charging them with possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, include: Hector Raul Bernal-Lara, Ricardo Sanchez-Marquez, Daniel Aguilar, Mark Garcia, Susana Tobaldo, Kevin Tes, Josh Rubio, Alfonso Aguilar-Ballestros, Jesus Moreno-Sepulveda, Santiago Galvan-Carrillo, Paul Armenta-Bueno, Bryan Castro, Daniel Fernando-Huizar.


02/01/2016

WASHINGTON, DC



OPERATIONAL


ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending January 29, 2016
ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending January 29, 2016



02/01/2016

FRESNO, CA



OPERATIONAL


Bakersfield man sentenced for pointing laser at law enforcement chopper
Jose Javier Rosas, aka Jose Javier Rosas Jimenez, 62, was sentenced Monday. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California.


02/01/2016

NEWARK, NJ



287G IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT


ICE New Jersey recognizes local law enforcement for continued support
ICE ERO Newark recognized its local partners at correctional facilities in Monmouth and Hudson counties for their ongoing efforts to help identify individuals detained on serious criminal charges who fall under the ICE priorities.


02/01/2016

DALLAS, TX



ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL


ICE Dallas officers deport Mexican man wanted for murder
Benito Alvarez-Gonzalez, 31, is accused of kidnapping two 15- and 17-year-old boys in Mexico in December 2015. He allegedly raped and shot the 17-year-old boy five times killing him; but the 15-year-old was able to escape and notify Mexican authorities.


01/29/2016

SANTA ANA, CA



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Long Beach youth soccer coach indicted on federal charges of possessing and distributing child pornography
Robert “Bob” Warden Phillips, 65, of Lake Forest, made his initial appearance in federal court Monday and pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was released on a $50,000 bond pending trial, which is slated to begin March 22.



01/29/2016

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, IL



CONTRABAND


Illinois man pleads guilty to illegally importing anabolic steroids from China
Matthew Short, 29, of Marion, Illinois, pleaded guilty Jan. 28 in federal court to importing a controlled substance from China (anabolic steroids).


01/29/2016

PHILADELPHIA, PA



NARCOTICS


Mexican drug trafficker sentenced to 30 years
Francisco Lopez, 37, a Mexican national formerly residing in Tuscon, Arizona, was the leader of an international drug trafficking organization which brought thousands of kilograms of marijuana from Mexico and laundered millions of dollars of drug proceeds.


01/29/2016

SAN DIEGO, CA



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Ohio seminary student accused of traveling to San Diego seeking sex with infants
Joel A. Wright, 23, of Columbus, Ohio, is charged in a criminal complaint with two felony counts, including travelling with the intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor; and attempting to engage in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign country within the Southern District of California.


01/29/2016

NEW YORK, NY



FINANCIAL CRIMES


Liberty Reserve founder pleads guilty to money laundering
Arthur Budovsky, 42, founded and operated Liberty Reserve, an underworld cyber-banking system that laundered hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit proceeds for criminals around the world.



01/28/2016

NEWARK, NJ



OPERATIONAL


New special agent in charge takes helm at ICE HSI Newark
“Make no mistake about it, there are always challenges but our special agents are up to the challenge and will excel to help safeguard our country,” said Opiola.


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