I.C.E. News Release

OPERATIONAL

01/25/2016

ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending January 22, 2016






January 20, 2016 – Sex trafficking ring leader sentenced in Houston to life in prison

A 68-year-old woman behind a 14-defendant sex-trafficking ring that operated in Houston was sentenced to life in federal prison. Full Story

January 21, 2016 – Off-duty Boston ICE personnel aid rescues from burning motel

Several U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel from ICE’s Boston office assisted local emergency responders at an overnight motel fire in Western Massachusetts, where they were staying while attending a fellow special agent’s wedding. Full Story

January 20, 2016 – Massachusetts supermarket chain earns ICE "IMAGE" distinction

One of the largest independently owned supermarket chains in New England became the latest business to partner in a nationwide program by ICE to ensure a legal and more secure work force. Full Story

January 20, 2016 – DHS investigation uncovers alleged immigration asylum fraud scheme

A Rhode Island man was indicted by federal grand jury for allegedly running an immigration fraud scheme in which false asylum applications were filed on behalf of more than 300 individuals who did not request nor authorize the applications. Full Story

January 21, 2016 – Honduran woman convicted of sex trafficking a minor in Houston

A Honduran woman was convicted of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas. Full Story

https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ic...anuary-22-2016
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I.C.E. News Releases:


01/22/2016

AMARILLO, TX


CHILD EXPLOITATION

Amarillo, Texas, man sentenced to 20 years in federal prison on child pornography conviction
Alexander Jimenez III, 28, of Amarillo, Texas, was sentenced Friday to 20 years in federal prison following his guilty plea in August 2015 to receiving child pornography.


01/22/2016

DALLAS, TX



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Former North Texas police officer sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for possessing child pornography
Brian Kelley, 41, of Quinlan, Texas, pleaded guilty in January 2015 to a superseding information charging one count of possessing child pornography. Judge Fitzwater also sentenced Kelley to serve a lifetime of supervised release, and remanded him into federal custody.


01/22/2016

AMARILLO, TX



HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING


Texas Panhandle resident sentenced to 10 years in federal prison on attempted child sex trafficking conviction
According to plea documents filed in the case, Xzavion Dayshaun Ragsdale, aka “Yung Billy,” 19, from Amarillo, admitted that from about March 30 to April 3, 2015, he attempted to recruit a 15-year-old girl to engage in commercial sex acts.



01/22/2016

HOUSTON, TX



ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL


ICE Houston officers deport Mexican national wanted for homicide
Fidel Chan-Amador, aka El Chichi, 48, was turned over to Mexican authorities Jan. 22 at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge in Laredo.


01/21/2016

STURBRIDGE, MA



OPERATIONAL


Off-duty Boston ICE personnel aid rescues from burning motel
"Going back into a burning building to save people is one of the most selfless things I can think of someone doing. SA Lundt, AFOD Sullivan and TEO Adamson are heroes and I’m incredibly proud of their efforts, and those of the local emergency response teams that assisted during this crisis.”


01/21/2016

BALTIMORE, MD



INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS


Over 2,000 counterfeit CDs seized from Baltimore City music store
The seized items were packaged to appear genuine and were sold at the same price point as legitimate goods. According to experts, such high quality counterfeit items suggest they were likely made using commercial grade equipment. Experts from the RIAA accompanied HSI special agents as on-scene subject matter experts.


01/21/2016

WHEELING, WV



CHILD EXPLOITATION


West Virginia man sentenced to 15 years for production of child pornography
Robert J. Gongloff, 26, of Terra Alta, West Virginia, pleaded guilty in August 2015 to one count of production of child pornography. By pleading guilty, Gongloff admitted that he had produced numerous images and videos depicting nude minors and minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.



01/21/2016

HOUSTON, TX



HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING


Honduran woman convicted of sex trafficking a minor in Houston
Maria E. Gonzales Munoz, aka "Merci," 45, co-owned numerous brothels, including Cocodrillos, that posed as bars in and around the Houston area which facilitated commercial sex.


01/20/2016

BOSTON, MA



WORKSITE ENFORCEMENT


Massachusetts supermarket chain earns ICE "IMAGE" distinction
As an IMAGE certified member, Big Y is recognized as an exceptional employer and a role model in the business community. IMAGE certified employers are committed to hiring only authorized workers whose identity and eligibility to work in the United States is documented.


01/20/2016

CORPUS CHRISTI



HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING


Mexican man sentenced to almost 6 years in federal prison for human smuggling rollover that resulted in 2 deaths
Amurabi Medina-Cruz, 22, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey to 71 months in prison for alien smuggling.


01/20/2016

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Former Southeast Texas firefighter sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for producing child pornography
Justin Ryan Serna, 28, from Corpus Christi, was sentenced Jan. 19 by District Judge John D. Rainey to 180 months in federal prison. He was also sentenced to serve 10 years of supervised release; and he must also register as a sex offender. Serna pleaded guilty to the charges in October 2015.



01/20/2016

HOUSTON, TX



HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING


Sex trafficking ring leader sentenced in Houston to life in prison
A federal jury convicted Hortencia Medeles-Arguello, aka Raquel Medeles Garcia or “Tencha,” April 24, 2015, following a 10-day trial and about four hours of deliberations. She was convicted on all counts: conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, conspiracy to harbor aliens, aiding and abetting to commit money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering.


01/20/2016

DENVER, CO



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Colorado man pleads guilty to producing child pornography with babies just a few weeks old
Jamie Sailas, 30, of Metro Denver, pleaded guilty Jan. 15, 2016 to producing child pornography before U.S. District Court Judge William J. Martinez. Sailas is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Martinez April 28.


01/20/2016

PROVIDENCE, RI



DOCUMENT AND BENEFIT FRAUD


DHS investigation uncovers alleged immigration asylum fraud scheme
Nimon Naphaeng, 34, a native and citizen of Thailand, who currently resides in Wakefield, Rhode Island, was charged with a 26-count indictment, for charges including visa fraud, mail fraud, aggravated identity theft and international money laundering.


01/20/2016

BEAUMONT, TX



CHILD EXPLOITATION


East Texas registered sex offender sentenced to life in prison for producing child pornography
Jose Stephen Gracia, 45, was sentenced to life in federal prison Jan. 20 by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone for producing child pornography. He pleaded guilty to the charges July 27, 2015.



01/19/2016

WASHINGTON, DC



OPERATIONAL


ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending January 15, 2016
ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending January 15, 2016


01/15/2016

BUFFALO, NY



HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING


ICE deports Salvadoran man wanted for human trafficking
Julio Francisco Alvarado was turned over to ICE in Buffalo, New York, Oct. 9, 2015, after U.S. Customs and Border Protection encountered him at the Rainbow Bridge. CBP officers re-instated an earlier issued deportation order against Alvarado, who had a prior removal in 2004.


01/15/2016

TULSA, OK



TRANSNATIONAL GANGS


Universal Aryan Brotherhood prison gang associate sentenced to nearly 5 years in federal prison for violence committed in aid of racketeering
Robert Allen Paul Bryan, 41, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to the charges June 4, 2015 before U.S. District Judge Claire V. Eagan.


01/15/2016

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA



DOCUMENT AND BENEFIT FRAUD


Former Rwandan refugee in Iowa convicted of naturalization fraud
Ken Ngombwa, 56, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was convicted of the following crimes: one count of unlawfully procuring or attempting to procure naturalization or citizenship; one count of procuring citizenship to which he was not entitled; one count of conspiracy to unlawfully procure citizenship; and one count of making a materially false statement to agents of the Department of Homeland Security.



01/15/2016

BOSTON, MA



HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING


Massachusetts man sentenced to 15 years for sex trafficking
Corey Norris aka “Case,” or “Jacorey Johnson,” 26, of the historic Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison and five years of supervised release.


01/15/2016

LUBBOCK, TX



CHILD EXPLOITATION


South Texas man sentenced to 17 ½ years in federal prison for producing child pornography
According to plea documents filed in the case, Felipe Martinez Ramirez, 48, of Ozona, Texas, enticed a girl to engage in sexually explicit conduct with him at a residence in Ozona, and he used a cell phone to record that conduct reflected in a bathroom mirror.


01/14/2016

MILWAUKEE, MN



ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL


ICE Milwaukee arrests 15 during operation targeting criminal aliens
All 15 arrested have been convicted of crimes in the United States and fall within ICE’s enforcement priorities for deportation. Their convictions include: homicide by negligent use of a vehicle, strangulation and suffocation, battery, burglary, theft, domestic abuse, drug possession and drunk driving. The group also included three previously deported aliens.


01/13/2016

BOSTON, MA



HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING


2 Massachusetts men charged with sex trafficking
Kwamaine J. Wells, 26, of Brockton, Massachusetts, was indicted on two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, four counts of transportation of an individual with intent to engage in prostitution, and one count of conspiracy to transport an individual for prostitution. Akil J. DeCoteau, 27, of Boston, was indicted on one count of transportation of an individual with intent to engage in prostitution and one count of conspiracy.





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