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

I.C.E. News Release

OPERATIONAL

02/01/2016

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




January 29, 2016 – Human trafficking victim shares story

Tonya spent night after night in different hotel rooms, with different men, all at the command of someone she once trusted. She was held against her will, beaten and made to feel like she had no other option at the time, all by the man she thought she loved. Help eventually came for Tonya in the form of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent Keith Owens. Full Story

January 27, 2016 – South Texas law enforcement partners launch task force to combat sexual predators who target children

To further protect children from sexual predators, ICE’s HSI has partnered with other South Texas agencies to form the Rio Grande Valley Child Exploitation Investigations Task Force (RGV CEITF). Full Story

January 26, 2016 – ICE-led sting operation in Colorado nets 10 child predator arrests

Ten child-predator suspects were arrested during a two-day undercover sting operation led by ICE’s HSI in the Denver area. Full Story

January 25, 2016 – Puerto Rico community leaders to form third nationwide ICE-sponsored Citizens Academy

A group of 14 community leaders representing government and the bank, security and media industries formed the third cohort of ICE’s HSI-sponsored Citizens Academy. The participants join a group of 21 citizens who have graduated and become the first graduates of an HSI Academy in the nation. Full Story

January 22, 2016 – ICE removes MS-13 gang member wanted in El Salvador for extortion

A 22-year-old MS-13 gang member wanted in El Salvador on extortion charges was removed by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers in Philadelphia. Full Story

https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ic...anuary-29-2016
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I.C.E. News Releases:


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

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.


01/28/2016

WORCESTER, MA



DOCUMENT AND BENEFIT FRAUD


Rhode Island woman pleads guilty in Massachusetts to 8 counts of wire fraud
Patria Zuniga, 53, of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, pleaded guilty to eight counts of wire fraud. Zuniga’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 24, 2016.


01/28/2016

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX



NARCOTICS


California man indicted for largest methamphetamine seizure in Southeast Texas
The indictment against Deandre Bennett, 57, of San Bernardino, California, was returned Jan. 28. This is believed to be the largest-ever seizure of methamphetamine in the Corpus Christi Division.


01/27/2016

BROWNSVILLE, TX



CHILD EXPLOITATION


South Texas law enforcement partners launch task force to combat sexual predators who target children
Through the RGV CEITF, local and federal law enforcement agencies are pooling their resources to jointly investigate all crimes committed against children in the Texas Rio Grande Valley.



01/27/2016

FARGO, ND



HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING


Wisconsin man, woman plead guilty in North Dakota to sex trafficking children
Kurtis William Johnson, 26, and Tara Malinda Ridley, 26, both of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty before U. S. District Judge Ralph R Erickson. Johnson pleaded guilty to two counts of sex trafficking children and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. Ridley pleaded guilty to one count of interstate travel in aid of prostitution.


01/27/2016

BOSTON, MA



COUNTER PROLIFERATION INVESTIGATION UNIT


Chinese national sentenced to 9 years for providing US goods to Iranian nuclear program
Sihai Cheng, aka Chun Hai Cheng, Alex Cheng, 35, a citizen of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), was sentenced to nine years in prison, the longest sentence ever handed down in the U.S. for export violations. In December 2015, Cheng pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiring to commit export violations and four counts of illegally exporting U.S. manufactured pressure transducers to Iran.


01/27/2016

WICHITA, KS



HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING


Kansas massage parlor owner sentenced on federal prostitution charge
Ping Liu, 44, of Wichita, Kansas, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted coercion and enticement to prostitution. Liu was also ordered to serve five years’ probation.


01/27/2016

SPRINGFIELD, MO



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Missouri child sex offender charged with viewing international online sex shows featuring children in the Philippines
Paul L. Sipeer, 65, of Duenweg, Missouri, was charged in a criminal complaint alleging he received child pornography via the Internet. Sipeer had his initial court appearance Jan. 27 and remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing Feb. 2.



01/26/2016

MINNEAPOLIS, MN



HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING


Minnesota man sentenced to more than 24 years in federal prison for sex trafficking minor girls
Dontre D'Sean McHenry, aka Dontre Sean McHenry, aka Avon, and aka Rico, 26, of Minneapolis, was sentenced to 293 months in prison for recruiting and prostituting teenage girls throughout Minnesota. McHenry pleaded guilty to these charges Oct. 17, 2014.


01/26/2016

MINNEAPOLIS, MN



HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING


Minnesota man, girlfriend plead guilty to sex trafficking minor girls
Phillip Dwayne Lloyd, aka Marcus Strong, aka Philip Dwayne Loyd, aka Dwayne Smith, aka Alfred Woods and aka ‘PC,' 44, of Minneapolis, pleaded guilty to recruiting and sex trafficking a 17-year-old girl and for directing and producing a video of the minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Co-defendant Raquel Mone Belcher, 29, also of Minneapolis, pleaded guilty Monday to one count of conspiracy to sex traffic minors.


01/26/2016

KANSAS CITY, MO



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Missouri man charged with distributing child pornography
Cody Lee Davidson, 18, of Raytown, Missouri, was charged in a criminal complaint filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Kansas City. Davidson was arrested Jan. 26 and had his initial court appearance the following day.


01/26/2016

FARGO, ND



NARCOTICS


North Dakota man sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for drug conspiracy resulting in teen’s death
Joshua Tyler Fulp, 20, of Grand Forks was sentenced to serve 12 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in serious bodily injury and death.



01/26/2016

NEWARK, NJ



FINANCIAL CRIMES


7 California residents charged with conspiracy and fraud from alleged mortgage scheme
According to the indictment, the defendants also routinely ignored cease and desist orders directed at them, including a December 17, 2013 order from the State of Connecticut Department of Banking to cease and desist from charging advance fees to Connecticut residents for mortgage modification services.


01/26/2016

LOS ANGELES, CA



COUNTER PROLIFERATION INVESTIGATION UNIT


Mother and son indicted for allegedly smuggling ammunition and firearms parts to Philippines
Marlou Mendoza, 60, and Mark Louie Mendoza, 30, are named in separate indictments returned by a federal grand jury Dec. 10.


01/26/2016

DENVER, CO



CHILD EXPLOITATION


ICE-led sting operation in Colorado nets 10 child predator arrests
The 10 men were arrested in the Jan. 20-21 operation on state charges of attempted trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude, attempted solicitation of a child for prostitution, and attempted sexual assault of a child.


01/25/2016

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA



HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING


ICE joins Iowa state and local law enforcement to combat human trafficking
U.S. Attorney Kevin W. Techau held a press conference Monday at the Marion, Iowa, Police Department, in cooperation with HSI, the Iowa Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Enforcement and local non-profit Cedar Rapids Gives, to make the announcement.



01/25/2016

FARGO, ND



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Minnesota man pleads guilty in North Dakota to sex trafficking of a child
Anthony Lamarr Sims, 21, aka “Mar Mar,” pled guilty before U. S. District Judge Ralph R. Erickson to one count of sex trafficking of children.


01/25/2016

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



OPERATIONAL


Puerto Rico community leaders to form third nationwide ICE-sponsored Citizens Academy
The HSI San Juan Citizens Academy was developed by HSI San Juan special agents to provide members of the general public with an inside look at HSI and how the agency enforces immigration and customs laws.





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F.B.I. Breaking News
01.29.16
Boston: More than 50 MS-13 members indicted on RICO, drug, weapons charges.
01.29.16
Washington: Andrew McCabe named deputy director of the FBI.
01.29.16
Detroit: Husband and wife charged with distributing infectious human remains.

D.E.A. TOP STORY
Truck Seized with 100 Pounds of Heroin Worth at Least $14 Million

JAN 27 (NEW YORK)

James J. Hunt, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's New York Division (DEA), Bridget G. Brennan, New York City's Special Narcotics Prosecutor, New York City Police Commissioner William J. Bratton and Joseph A. D'Amico, Superintendent of the New York State Police, announced the arrest of two men charged with transporting approximately 100 pounds of heroin hidden within vehicle parts within New York City.

READ MORE MORE TOP STORIES


D.E.A. LATEST NEWS

JAN 29 (HOT SPRINGS, Ark.) Three Men Sentenced for Drug and Firearm Related Offenses JAN 28 (NEW ORLEANS) Federal Jury Convicts Texas Men in Drug Conspiracy JAN 28 (FRESNO, Calif.) Large-Scale Statewide Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Indictment JAN 28 (SACRAMENTO, Calif.) Defendant from Meth Trafficking Organization Sentenced JAN 28 (GREENBELT, Md.) Convicted Felon Sentenced on Drug Charges and Firearm Possession

MORE NEWS

A.T.F. Press Releases


THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

Six Detroit Vice Lords Gang Members Plead Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy and Gang-Related Shootings
Detroit Field Division


Six Vice Lords Plead Guilty to Rico Conspiracy and Gang-Related Shootings
Detroit Field Division


Waterville Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Illegally Possessing Ammunition
Boston Field Division


U.S. Attorney’s Office Violence Reduction Partnership Results in the Prosecution of 55 Drug Traffickers, Illegal Firearms Dealers and Convicted Felons Targeting Our Local Communities
Miami Field Division


WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2016

Schuele Boys Gang Associate Pleads Guilty to Drug Charge
New York Field Division


Dallas Man Sentenced to 216 Months in Federal Prison on Firearms and Drug Distribution Convictions
Dallas Field Division


TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2016

Mother and Son Named in Federal Grand Jury Indictments that Allege Smuggling of Ammunition and Firearm Parts to Philippines
Los Angeles Field Division


Sedalia Man Sentenced for Meth Conspiracy
Kansas City Field Division


Spokane Woman Sentenced to Fifteen Years in Federal Prison for Her Role in Violent Drug Trafficking Organization
Seattle Field Division


New York State Court Officer Arrested for Robbery Conspiracy
New York Field Division


MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 2016

Meth Traffickers Receive Lengthy Federal Prison Sentences
Dallas Field Division


Two Men Charged in Gas Station Armed Robberies
Tampa Field Division


Stephentown Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing a Firearm
New York Field Division

Headlines News coverage of the U.S. Marshals

	Man wanted for burning child's arm with iron arrested
	Decades-long search ends with an arrest
	Michigan City man charged with torturing dog
	2 escapees return to OC Central Men’s Jail
	Alleged mastermind may have used women to scam others
	Two Camden City Men Arrested in 2013 Camden Homicide
	New York man accused of leaving friend to die Googled 'how do fugitives escape'
	AC/DC Take Preemptive Move Against Counterfeiters
	Tenn. most wanted suspect found behind Ky. refrigerator
	Amber Alert dispute continues in search for boy, inmate

JUSTICE NEWS



Former Owner and Operator of California Medical Equipment Supply Company Sentenced for Their Roles in $1.5 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme
Friday, January 29, 2016




Founder of Liberty Reserve Pleads Guilty to Laundering More Than $250 Million through His Digital Currency Business
Friday, January 29, 2016




Acting Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo Delivers Remarks at the American Bar Association’s Tax Section Midyear Meeting
Friday, January 29, 2016


MORE NEWS