I.C.E. News Releases October 2014

10/31/2014

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Southeast Texas man admits possessing more than 5 million child pornography images on his computer
Terry Lee Clark, 48, of Corpus Christi, was contacted by authorities after receiving an anonymous tip in July. Clark gave permission to law enforcement to search his residence. During the search, a computer was discovered in his bedroom with child pornography on the screen. The computer and several media storage devices were seized revealing several images and videos containing child pornography.


10/31/2014

LUBBOCK, TX



CHILD EXPLOITATION


North Texas man faces up to 10 years in federal prison on obscenity conviction
Christopher Wayne Howard, 26, of Joshua, Texas, pleaded guilty to one count of transferring obscene material to a minor. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings ordered a presentence investigation report; a sentencing date will be set after that report is completed. Howard remains on bond.


10/31/2014

SAN ANTONIO, TX



ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL


ICE arrests 62 criminal aliens and immigration violators during 3-day central and south Texas enforcement operation
Of the 62 individuals arrested, 54 had previous criminal convictions including: aggravated assault, drug possession, burglary, alien smuggling and drunken driving.


10/30/2014

NEW YORK, NY



CONTRABAND


Brooklyn doctor indicted for illegally selling more than 200 prescriptions for addictive painkillers worth $700,000
Schiller Desgrottes, 66, a licensed internal medicine physician, faces 227 counts of criminal sale of a prescription for a controlled substance and one count of conspiracy in the fourth degree.



10/30/2014

WASHINGTON, DC



INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS


IPR Center welcomes 2 new partner agencies
These new partners greatly strengthen the IPR Center, which was founded in 2000, and serves as one of the U.S. government's key weapons in the fight against criminal counterfeiting and piracy. The center uses the expertise of its 22 member agencies to share information, develop initiatives, coordinate enforcement actions, and conduct investigations related to IP theft.


10/30/2014

DALLAS, TX



ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL


ICE Dallas officers remove 3-time deported Salvadoran national
German Ardon-Zavala, 57, was removed to El Salvador Oct. 29 via government charter flight from Dallas and was turned over to officials from El Salvador’s Policia Nacional Civil (PNC).


10/30/2014

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



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Puerto Rican man sentenced to 2½ years for possession of child pornography
On Feb. 28, HSI special agents arrested Jose Fernando Rodriguez-Vargas, of Carolina, after they received information from the Puerto Rico Police Department regarding Rodriguez-Vargas's attempt to use his cellular telephone to clandestinely take photographs of a 14-year-old girl at a local supermarket.


10/30/2014

TAMPA, FL



CONTRABAND


3 arrested in California in drug trafficking, money laundering investigation
Hugo Adalberto Adrian Ramirez, 42, of Ontario, California, Edgar Hurtado-Ramirez, 45, of Ontario, and Luis Fernando Mancillas Medina, 49, of Los Angeles, have been charged in Florida with conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

10/29/2014

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX



HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING


Houston woman sentenced to 6 ½ years in prison for human smuggling resulting in death
Karin Yamilec Aguilar-Melgor, 22, was sentenced Oct. 29 by U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales to 78 months in prison after accepting her guilty plea June 5. Aguilar-Melgor must also serve three years of supervised release.


10/29/2014

NEWARK, NJ



FINANCIAL CRIMES


2 men charged in $5.8 million prepaid debit card extortion scam
FBI and HSI special agents arrested Alpeshkumar Patel, 30, and Vijaykumar Patel, 39, of Philadelphia at Vijaykumar Patel's home Tuesday on felony conspiracy to commit wire fraud charges.


10/29/2014

COLUMBUS, OH



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Columbus-area fugitive added to ICE's Operation Predator smartphone app to locate at-large child sex predators
Jeremiah Malfroid, 33, was charged by criminal complaint Oct. 20 for production, receipt, distribution and possession of child pornography. Following a search of Malfroid's former Columbus-area residence in connection with the probe, officers with the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) found nearly 700 sexually explicit videos of minors on his laptop computer and other digital media.


10/29/2014

CHARLOTTE, NC



CONTRABAND


Mexican man sentenced to 35 years in NC for trafficking cocaine
Jorge Molina-Sanchez, 35, of Mexico, was convicted by a federal jury in May 2013 of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine and at least one kilogram of heroin, conspiracy to launder proceeds of drug trafficking, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.



10/29/2014

HOUSTON, TX



HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING


3 arrested in Houston, 1 in Miami; charged with sex trafficking minors
Blasina Vargas, 53, Dolores Vargas, 63, and Ignacio Escandon, 48, were arrested in Houston and will appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Frances H. Stacy Oct. 29.


10/29/2014

NEW YORK, NY



FINANCIAL CRIMES


HSI investigation leads to the arrest of 22 suspected gang members for bank fraud
According to the court documents, the 22 defendants participated in a conspiracy to steal more than $400,000 by forging money orders from the U.S. Postal Service before cashing them at various banks.


10/29/2014

MISSOULA, MT



CHILD EXPLOITATION


11 men from throughout the US receive lengthy prison sentences following an international child exploitation investigation
The following 11 defendants pleaded guilty to child porography charges in April; they were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy of Missoula: Tony Bronson, 53, from Gary, Indiana; Charles Crosby, 43, from Trenton, New Jersey; Steve Humiston, 57, from Tacoma, Washington; John Johnson, 58, from Locust Grove, Virginia; Robert Krise, 66, from Gaithersburg, Maryland; Scott Long, 53, from Portland, Oregon; Ian Nosek, 42, from Charlottesville, Virginia; Phillip Morris, 42, from Jeffersonville, Indiana; Joseph Purificato, 23, from Mount Vernon, Missouri; Paul Wencewicz, a 48-year-old resident of Polson, Montana; Jeffrey Woolley, 53, from Nicholasville, Kentucky.


10/28/2014

BOISE, ID



CONTRABAND


Idaho man pleads guilty in bath salts distribution case
Brent R. Heinrich, 41, ordered the alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone (alpha-PVP) from China and had it shipped by FedEx to a false name and address.

10/28/2014

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



CHILD EXPLOITATION


HSI arrests Arecibo resident for possession of child pornography
HSI special agents arrested Pedro Andujar-Maldonado, 31, after a referral from the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit led to an investigation revealing that a person with Andujar-Maldonado’s computer Internet Protocol address logged on to the Internet and shared child pornography through the peer-to-peer network known as Emule.


10/27/2014

LAREDO, TX



COUNTER PROLIFERATION INVESTIGATION UNIT


North Texas man sentenced to 2 ½ years in federal prison for attempting to smuggle firearms and ammunition into Mexico
Martin Lopez-Villela, 51, a U.S. permanent resident residing in Dallas, Texas, was sentenced Oct. 27 by U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana to 30 months in federal prison. As a convicted felon, he is expected to face deportation proceedings after he’s released from federal prison.


10/27/2014

WASHINGTON, DC



OTHER


ICE's top news stories for the week ending Oct. 24, 2014
ICE's top news stories for the week ending Oct. 24, 2014


10/27/2014

SANTA ANA, CA



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Former Orange County teacher charged in federal sex tourism case
Robert Ruben Ornelas, 63, of Santa Ana, was taken into federal custody Friday afternoon after being named in a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court.



10/27/2014

LAREDO, TX



CONTRABAND


Mexican methamphetamine trafficker sentenced to more than 11 years in prison
Damian Hesari Mansur Jasso, 26, was sentenced Oct. 27 by U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana to 135 months in federal prison. Jasso pleaded guilty to the charges Feb. 10. He is expected to face deportation proceedings after he’s released from prison.


10/27/2014

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



CHILD EXPLOITATION


HSI arrests former school bus driver on child exploitation charges
HSI special agents arrested Harry Rosario-Cosme, 40, at his home in the municipality of Corozal after a preliminary investigation revealed that he attempted to produce sexually explicit images of a 14-year-old girl.


10/24/2014

NEW YORK, NY



CHILD EXPLOITATION


HSI predator investigation leads to 25-year prison sentence for New York man
HSI special agents arrested Thomas J. Carey, 36, in June 2009, after special agents obtained a search warrant for his residence based upon a lead from the Swiss National Police and Interpol.


10/23/2014

ST. PAUL, MN



FINANCIAL CRIMES


2 Minnesota men indicted for orchestrating $1 million bank-fraud conspiracy
Vinh Xuan Ngo, aka Houng Van Tran, 36, and Norinh Inthonepradith, aka Chau Ngo, 38, are each charged in a 15-count federal indictment with bank fraud, conspiracy, aggravated identity theft and access-device fraud.

10/23/2014

SAN FRANCISCO, CA



FINANCIAL CRIMES


10 defendants who operated network of Bay Area brothels indicted on racketeering charges
Defendants Fong, Chun, Mu, Lee, Hartig, Chuong, and Jaemratanasophin were arrested Thursday and made their initial appearances in federal magistrate court in San Francisco. Jaemratanasophin was detained. The other defendants were released on bonds ranging from $100,000 to $500,000.


10/23/2014

GREAT FALLS, MT



CONTRABAND


17 indicted in Montana on drug and gun trafficking charges
This investigation is a cooperative effort by the Russell County (Montana) Drug Task Force which includes the following law enforcement agencies: Great Falls Police Department; Cascade County (Montana) Sheriff's Office; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Border Patrol; the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation; and U.S. Internal Revenue Service.


10/23/2014

DALLAS, TX



CHILD EXPLOITATION


North Texas man sentenced to nearly 7 years in federal prison for transporting and shipping child pornography
U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade remanded Meliton Torres, 32, of Lancaster, Texas, who had been on bond, into custody.


10/23/2014

WASHINGTON, DC



INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS


Federal agencies warn against counterfeit decorative contact lenses
Officials are warning consumers not to buy contact lenses from such places as Halloween or novelty shops, salons, beauty supply stores, or online if the site doesn’t require a prescription. Although many places illegally sell decorative contact lenses to consumers without valid prescriptions for as little as $20, these vendors are not authorized distributors of contact lenses, which by law require a prescription.



10/22/2014

BALTIMORE, MD



CONTRABAND


4 members of heroin distribution ring plead guilty
Reginald Jones, 26, of the Bronx, New York, pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin. Co-defendant Jeffrey Michael Anderson, 35, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin. Co-defendants William Ulysses Robinson, 38, of Grasonville, Maryland and Shawn Christopher Malley, 25, of Crofton, Maryland, pleaded guilty to the conspiracy Monday.


10/22/2014

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Southeast Texas man sentenced to 10 years in prison for possessing child pornography
John Lincoln Hoblit, 58, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey to 120 months in federal prison Oct. 22. This prison sentence will be followed by 10 years of supervised release, including numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the Internet. Hoblit will also be required to again register as a sex offender.


10/22/2014

TAMPA, FL



WORKSITE ENFORCEMENT


5 Florida companies become newest ICE IMAGE partners
IMAGE stands for ICE Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers. As part of this agreement, Santa Rosa County School District, Colorado Boxed Beef Company and its 3 subsidiaries: ATG Transportation LLC, PREFCO Distribution LLC and The Great Fish Company LLC, have pledged to maintain a secure and stable workforce and curtail the employment of unauthorized workers through outreach and education.


10/22/2014

NEW YORK, NY



TRANSNATIONAL GANGS


HSI investigation leads to life sentence for Chinese gang leader
Following a three-week trial in April 2013, a jury convicted Xing Lin, 42, aka "Ding Pa," of engaging in racketeering from 1996 through 2009, murdering two individuals in a Queens nightclub in 2004, operating multiple illegal gambling parlors, and extorting bus company owners.

10/22/2014

NEW YORK, NY



TRANSNATIONAL GANGS


HSI investigation leads to life sentence for Chinese gang leader
Following a three-week trial in April 2013, a jury convicted Xing Lin, 42, aka "Ding Pa," of engaging in racketeering from 1996 through 2009, murdering two individuals in a Queens nightclub in 2004, operating multiple illegal gambling parlors, and extorting bus company owners.


10/22/2014

DES MOINES, IA



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Iowa man sentenced to 5 years in prison for possessing child pornography
Domenic “John” Pighetti, 70, of Polk City, Iowa, was sentenced Oct. 22 by U.S. District Court Chief Judge James E. Gritzner to five years in prison for knowingly possessing child pornography.


10/22/2014

WASHINGTON, DC



CULTURAL PROPERTY, ART AND ANTIQUITIES INVESTIGATIONS


25 Peruvian cultural treasures returned to the government of Peru
Items returned included two Colonial-era Cusco paintings, a funerary vessel from 100-1532 A.D., a Chancay statue from 1200-1450 A.D., a Lambayeque-style vessel from 800-1300 A.D., and Incan artifacts looted from ancient Peruvian graves.


10/22/2014

SAN FRANCISCO, CA



TRANSNATIONAL GANGS


3 Bay Area MS-13 gang members sentenced on gang-related murder and racketeering charges
The defendants, Davie Jimmy Mejia-Sensente, a/k/a “Crazy” or “Loco,” 31; Carlos Mejia- Quintanilla, a/k/a “Sleepy” or “Dormido,” 25; and Luis Amilar-Zanas, a/k/a “Trucha,” 35, previously pleaded guilty to killing Alexander Temaj-Castanon. The defendants, who mistook Temaj-Castanon for a rival gang member, fatally shot the victim at a bus stop in Daly City on June 21, 2010.



10/21/2014

BATH, NY



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Corning man charged with possession of child pornography
According to the investigation, Dejuan J. Miller, 33, was the subject of an investigation involving a person promoting child pornography over the Internet.


10/21/2014

WASHINGTON, DC



OTHER


ICE Career Development Program maximizing technology for employee training
Regardless of grade or location, all ICE employees have access to the improved ICE Training and Education Center (TEC) website that provides interactive opportunities to share personal stories and improve their skills. In addition, the establishment of November as National Career Development month provided ICE employees with a month’s worth of events at ICE headquarters and field offices and development materials.


10/21/2014

EL CENTRO, CA



CONTRABAND


HSI-led probe targets major Southern California drug trafficking network with gang ties
During Tuesday’s predawn enforcement actions in Brawley, Calipatria and El Centro, authorities arrested 43 individuals and executed 38 search warrants. Those taken into custody include 22 individuals who are named in the federal indictments and 21 suspects who will be charged in state court. In addition to the arrests, the operation resulted in the seizure of narcotics, cash and 14 firearms.


10/20/2014

WASHINGTON, DC



OTHER


ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending Oct. 17, 2014
ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending Oct. 17, 2014

10/20/2014

PHILADELPHIA, PA



ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL


ICE Philadelphia officers deport man wanted in Guatemala on murder charges
Edwin Estuardo Martinez-Ortega, 18, was deported from Philadelphia Oct. 16 via ICE charter aircraft and transferred to the custody of Guatemalan law enforcement authorities at the Guatemala City International Airport.


10/20/2014

KANSAS CITY, KS



WORKSITE ENFORCEMENT


Chinese restaurant owner in Kansas pleads guilty to harboring illegal workers
The owner of two Chinese restaurants in the Kansas City area pleaded guilty Monday to conspiring to employ and harbor illegal alien workers, announced U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom, District of Kansas.


10/20/2014

WASHINGTON, DC



OTHER


ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending Oct. 17, 2014
ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending Oct. 17, 2014


10/20/2014

NEW YORK, NY



FINANCIAL CRIMES


HSI investigation leads to sentencing of international money broker
Luis Anibal Salazar Garcia, 51, received 92 months while 10 co-defendants were sentenced last month to sentences ranging from 28 to 64 months imprisonment.



10/20/2014

BOSTON, MA



DOCUMENT AND BENEFIT FRAUD


Dominican national sentenced for aggravated identity theft
Renato De La Cruz, 40, was sentenced to 25 months in prison and ordered to pay $33,164 in restitution to the state and federal governments. In June 2014, De La Cruz was convicted following a three-day jury trial of theft of public money, use of a falsely-obtained social security number, and aggravated identity theft.


10/17/2014

OAKLAND, CA



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Bay Area man linked to Oregon teen’s kidnapping charged federally
Blake Robert Johnston, 41, of Martinez, is charged in a federal criminal complaint filed late Thursday with traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.


10/17/2014

SAN ANTONIO, TX



ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL


ICE San Antonio deports Mexican fugitive wanted for homicide
Jose Miguel Rangel-Exiga, 40, was deported Oct. 16 and transferred to the custody of Mexican law enforcement authorities at the border crossing in Brownsville, Texas.


10/17/2014

LUBBOCK, TX



CHILD EXPLOITATION


West Texas man faces up to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing child pornography
Reymundo Alejandro Sanchez, 21, from Abilene, Texas, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings to one count of possessing child pornography.

10/17/2014

PORTLAND, OR



OTHER


Austrian fugitive wanted for murdering mother captured in Portland
Stefan Eduard Wiebogen, of Strasshof, Austria, was taken into custody late Thursday night by HSI special agents near a Portland hostel. Weibogen is the subject of an Interpol Red Notice and is wanted on a criminal arrest warrant issued by the Regional Court of Korneuburg, Austria.


10/17/2014

ST PAUL, MN



CHILD EXPLOITATION


St. Paul man pleads guilty to sex trafficking teenage girls throughout Minnesota
Dontre D’Sean McHenry, aka Dontre Sean McHenry, aka Avon, aka Rico, pleaded guilty Oct. 17 to sex trafficking a minor before Judge David S. Doty in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis. McHenry, 25, of St. Paul, is expected to be sentenced at a future court appearance.


10/17/2014

WASHINGTON, DC



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Veteran “HEROs” join ICE efforts to bring child predators to justice
ICE Deputy Director Daniel Ragsdale today joined U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), Chief of Transition Initiatives, Lieutenant Colonel Kimberly Moros and National Association to Protect Children (PROTECT) Executive Director Grier Weeks at a swearing in ceremony for 13 veterans – many of whom were wounded in the line of duty – as part of the second graduating class of Human Exploitation Rescue Operative Corps, or HERO Corps.


10/17/2014

NEWPORT NEWS, VA



CONTRABAND


12 indicted for roles in large-scale synthetic narcotics operation
Twelve individuals were charged Thursday in a multi-count indictment related to the distribution of controlled substance analogues, aka Spice, among other charges. This investigation was led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with assistance from multiple local, state and federal agencies.



10/16/2014

SAN SALVADOR,EL SALVADOR



HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING


HSI, Salvadoran authorities arrest 3 Central American human smugglers
Manuel and Juan Diaz-Perdomo and Henrry Lizama-Sanchez, all Salvadoran nationals, allegedly received $9,700 in U.S. currency in June 2014 to smuggle a mother and daughter to New York from El Salvador. Other individuals involved in the scheme also tried to extort additional money from the family upon their arrival in the United States.


10/16/2014

CHICAGO, IL



ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL


ICE deports Bulgarian Interpol fugitive convicted of raping a minor
Romeo Mihov Ruskov, 48, was removed Oct. 14 from Chicago via commercial aircraft under ERO escort, arriving in Sofia, Bulgaria, Oct. 15. Ruskov is the subject of an Interpol Red Notice related to his conviction for raping a minor in Bulgaria. He was transferred to the custody of Bulgarian law enforcement authorities to serve an outstanding four-year prison sentence for this conviction.


10/16/2014

RICHMOND, VA



DOCUMENT AND BENEFIT FRAUD


Final defendant in fraudulent document ring sentenced to nearly 5 years
Freddy David Santos Campuzano, 32, a Mexican national who resided in Richmond, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in racketeering and conspiracy to launder money. Since Santos Campuzano is illegally in the United States, he faces deportation following his prison sentence.


10/16/2014

DETROIT, MI



CONTRABAND


Operation Jailbreak guilty plea caps more than 3-year international cellphone trafficking probe
As part of the plea agreement, Jason Floarea, 29, of West Bloomfield, former president of ACE Wholesale, forfeits his interest in approximately $1,000,000 in seized funds and approximately $200,000 in assets.

10/16/2014

WASHINGTON, DC



OTHER


ICE launches redesigned website
Based on feedback from the public, site analytics and recommendations from export Web design and architecture consultants, the redesigned site features a “What We Do” section, separated into three categories: Preventing Terrorism, Investigating Illegal Movement of People and Goods, and Immigration Enforcement. This puts information about the agency’s operations into greater context, not only providing details about the mission, but the reason for it as well.


10/15/2014

BALTIMORE, MD



ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL


ICE deports man wanted on gang charges, aggravated homicide in El Salvador
Fernando Alberto Villatoro-Lizama, 23, who had been residing in Annapolis, Maryland, was escorted by ERO officers to Louisiana Oct. 6 and was repatriated onboard a charter flight coordinated by ICE’s Air Operations Unit. He was turned over to El Salvadoran authorities.


10/15/2014

FORT WORTH, TX



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Former north Texas high school teacher admits producing child pornography
Gregory Bogomol, 38, of Fort Worth and a former teacher at Denton (Texas) High School, appeared Oct. 15 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey L. Cureton and pleaded guilty to an indictment charging two counts of producing child pornography.


10/15/2014

WASHINGTON, DC



OTHER


ICE showcases commitment to veterans at AUSA meeting
In continuing with its commitment to the military, specifically veterans, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had a sprawling presence at AUSA in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security pavilion that was aimed to highlight its latest efforts both in recruiting and employing veterans and how it’s integrated them not only in our law enforcement agencies components, but across ICE as a whole.



10/15/2014

DETROIT, MI



CONTRABAND


Former NFL player arrested in stolen car probe
Authorities arrested former NFL cornerback Grant Mason, 31, of Suitland, Maryland, Monday at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, where he attempted to depart the United States via a flight to Canada.


10/15/2014

HELENA, MT



FINANCIAL CRIMES


Washington woman sentenced in Montana to 1 ½ years in federal prison for conspiring to pass counterfeit money orders
Kelly Lorraine Watts, 46, from Renton, Washington, was sentenced after pleading guilty May 20. Watts was sentenced 18 months in prison three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $30,360 in restitution.


10/15/2014

LOS ANGELES, CA



INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS


Former Los Angeles-area businessman sentenced to over 7 years in prison for selling knock-off batteries to Navy for use on warships
Didier De Nier, 64, who lived in Simi Valley until he fled the U.S. nearly two years ago, was found guilty in April by a federal jury of five counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States.


10/15/2014

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK



CHILD EXPLOITATION


North Dakota sex offender sentenced in Oklahoma to 45 years in federal prison for producing child pornography
Jeremy David Eades, 28, most recently from Minot, North Dakota, pleaded guilty to using a 4-year-old child to produce child pornography Nov. 29, 2012.

10/15/2014

LOS ANGELES, CA



INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS


Former Los Angeles-area businessman sentenced to over 7 years in prison for selling knock-off batteries to Navy for use on warships
Didier De Nier, 64, who lived in Simi Valley until he fled the U.S. nearly two years ago, was found guilty in April by a federal jury of five counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States.


10/15/2014

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK



CHILD EXPLOITATION


North Dakota sex offender sentenced in Oklahoma to 45 years in federal prison for producing child pornography
Jeremy David Eades, 28, most recently from Minot, North Dakota, pleaded guilty to using a 4-year-old child to produce child pornography Nov. 29, 2012.


10/14/2014

TYLER, TX



CHILD EXPLOITATION


East Texas man pleads guilty to child pornography violations
Joshua Quick, from Palestine, Texas, pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography Oct 14 before U.S. Magistrate Judge K. Nicole Mitchell.


10/14/2014

BOGOTA, COLOMBIA



HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING


HSI, Colombian authorities rescue 55 sex trafficking victims, all minors
Eleven Colombian citizens face charges for human trafficking of minors, pimping and pandering. Details regarding the remaining individual are not being disclosed pending the completion of the investigation.



10/14/2014

BOSTON, MA



FINANCIAL CRIMES


Everett man pleads guilty to bank fraud conspiracy
Gean Fabio DaSilva, 33, pleaded guilty after being indicted in December 2013 for his role in a sophisticated bank fraud scheme that involved the use of dozens of counterfeit identities to fraudulently open bank accounts.


10/14/2014

WASHINGTON, DC



OTHER


ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending Oct. 10, 2014
ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending Oct. 10, 2014


10/10/2014

CHICAGO, IL



COUNTER PROLIFERATION INVESTIGATION UNIT


Taiwanese businessman pleads guilty to conspiring to violate US laws that prevent proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
Hsien Tai Tsai, aka Alex Tsai, admitted that he engaged in illegal business transactions involving the export of U.S. origin goods and machinery. Tsai, 69, was arrested in May 2013 in Tallinn, Estonia, and was later extradited to the United States, where he remains in federal custody.


10/10/2014

JACKSONVILLE, FL



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Former corrections officer convicted of possessing child pornography
Leon Perry Brooks Sr., 40, of Jacksonville, faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on each count. Brooks was indicted Dec. 18, 2013. His sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.

10/10/2014

MCALLEN, TX



CONTRABAND


South Texas man arrested for using a federal government vehicle to transport cocaine
Mario Guadalupe Saenz, 27, of McAllen, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dorina Ramos Oct. 10 where he was formally charged. He was also charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.


10/10/2014

WASHINGTON, DC



OTHER


ICE to be featured on 60 Minutes Sunday, Oct. 12
Tune in to 60 Minutes on CBS at 7 pm, Sunday, Oct. 12 for a story about the dramatic capture of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, the fearsome, brutal boss of Mexico's violent Sinaloa Cartel, and the role of ICE in his apprehension.


10/10/2014

ARTESIA, NM



ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL


School about to start for children at the Artesia Family Residential Center
October 13 is the first day of school for about 200 children housed at the Artesia Family Residential Center (AFRC) in New Mexico, a facility operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).



10/10/2014

GAINESVILLE, FL



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Georgia man sentenced to 20 years for distributing child pornography
Jonathan Lee Whitmire, 36, of Auburn, was sentenced by United States District Judge William C. O'Kelley to 20 years in prison to be followed by 20 years of supervised release. Whitmire was also ordered to pay a $3,000.00 fine and a $100 special assessment. The defendant will be required to register as a sex offender when he is released from prison.



10/10/2014

CHICAGO, IL



COUNTER PROLIFERATION INVESTIGATION UNIT


Taiwanese businessman pleads guilty to conspiring to violate US laws that prevent proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
Hsien Tai Tsai, aka Alex Tsai, admitted that he engaged in illegal business transactions involving the export of U.S. origin goods and machinery. Tsai, 69, was arrested in May 2013 in Tallinn, Estonia, and was later extradited to the United States, where he remains in federal custody.


10/10/2014

WASHINGTON, DC



FINANCIAL CRIMES


Second vice president of Equatorial Guinea agrees to relinquish more than $30 million of assets purchased with corruption proceeds
The investigation leading to the settlement was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigation's (HSI) Foreign Corruption Investigations Group and the HSI Asset Identification and Removal Group in Miami, with the assistance of HSI Los Angeles and the HSI Attaché offices in Rome, Madrid, London and Paris.


10/09/2014

NEW YORK, NY



FINANCIAL CRIMES


HSI investigation leads to 5 arrests, indictments in identity-theft ring
Tamara Williams, 36, Kriss Rockson, 45, Jason Chance, 25, Alaia Harrison, 20, and Mickael Knight-Williams, 44, were part of an alleged scheme to use stolen personal identifying information from Saks Fifth Avenue customers to purchase approximately $400,000 in luxury goods from the Midtown flagship store for later resale on the black market.


10/09/2014

BROWNSVILLE, TX



HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING


3 Fort Hood soldiers and another man charged in south Texas in an alien transporting conspiracy
According to court documents, the indictment charges Eric Alexander Rodriguez, 20, Brandon Troy Robbins, 20, and Christopher David Wix, 21, all active-duty US Army soldiers stationed at Fort Hood.

10/09/2014

VERACRUZ, MEXICO



FINANCIAL CRIMES


ICE, SAT participate in first regional forum on combatting illicit trade
The forum and MOU will assist in developing a deeper understanding of the black and grey markets that criminal networks use to traffic goods into Mexico and throughout Latin America.


10/09/2014

TRENTON, NJ



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Georgia man sentenced to 10 years for traveling to NJ for child sex
Richard J. Simone Jr., 23, of Acworth, Georgia, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Mary L. Cooper in Trenton federal court to traveling across state lines for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct with a minor. Simone has been in custody since his arrest in September 2013.


10/09/2014

NEW YORK, NY



FINANCIAL CRIMES


HSI investigation leads to 5 arrests, indictments in identity-theft ring
Tamara Williams, 36, Kriss Rockson, 45, Jason Chance, 25, Alaia Harrison, 20, and Mickael Knight-Williams, 44, were part of an alleged scheme to use stolen personal identifying information from Saks Fifth Avenue customers to purchase approximately $400,000 in luxury goods from the Midtown flagship store for later resale on the black market.


10/09/2014

BROWNSVILLE, TX



HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING


3 Fort Hood soldiers and another man charged in south Texas in an alien transporting conspiracy
According to court documents, the indictment charges Eric Alexander Rodriguez, 20, Brandon Troy Robbins, 20, and Christopher David Wix, 21, all active-duty US Army soldiers stationed at Fort Hood.



10/08/2014

PHILADELPHIA, PA



CONTRABAND


NJ man charged with fraud scheme and illegally selling steroids
Eric C. Opitz, 45, of Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania, was charged with using Medicare Part D benefits to obtain human growth hormone (HGH) and anabolic steroids, which he then sold by advertising on the Internet.


10/08/2014

WILMINGTON, DE



COUNTER PROLIFERATION INVESTIGATION UNIT


Russian national sentenced for conspiring to smuggle night vision technology to Russia
Dmitry Ustinov, 53, of Moscow, was sentenced to 18 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In July, he pleaded guilty to conspiring to export the high-tech military technology, in violation of federal law.


10/08/2014

GUATEMALA CITY,GUATEMALA



OTHER


HSI TCIU officer earns degree through USAID-sponsored program
In 2012, the local officer, who is a part of the HSI Guatemala Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit (TCIU), requested the letter to assist in his entrance into a newly-formed U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)-sponsored program that would earn him a bachelor’s degree in police science and a minor in community policing. On Sept. 16, two years after receiving his later of recommendation, Vazquez received his degree from the Universidad del Occidente in Guatemala.


10/08/2014

DETROIT, MI



CONTRABAND


New Jersey pair arrested for retail-theft scheme
Authorities arrested Faru Fernandez-Igua, 48, and Monica Evangelista-Laos, 30, late last week after they attempted to enter Canada at Port Huron's Blue Water Bridge.

10/08/2014

DETROIT, MI



CONTRABAND


New Jersey pair arrested for retail-theft scheme
Authorities arrested Faru Fernandez-Igua, 48, and Monica Evangelista-Laos, 30, late last week after they attempted to enter Canada at Port Huron's Blue Water Bridge.


10/07/2014

CHANTILLY, VA



ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL


ICE removes South Korean woman wanted by Korean authorities for embezzlement
Heakyung Kim, 51, of South Korea, was admitted into the United States in March 2014 under the Visa Waiver Program with authorization to remain in the United States until June 25, but she did not depart the United States in accordance with the program.


10/07/2014

WASHINGTON, PA



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Pennsylvania priest indicted on child sexual tourism charges
Joseph D. Maurizio Jr., 69, a priest at the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, was originally charged by criminal complaint and arrested on Sept. 25.


10/07/2014

DES MOINES, IA



CHILD EXPLOITATION


California man charged in Iowa with sexual exploiting a minor to produce child pornography
David Anthony Lavera, 33, of San Diego, California, had his initial appearance and arraignment Oct. 7 on federal child pornography charges in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.



10/07/2014

HOUSTON, TX



ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL


ICE Houston deports Canadian man wanted for dangerous driving resulting in 2 deaths
Robert James Fox, aka Robert Fotti, 65, was escorted to the Pembina, North Dakota, Port of Entry Oct. 6 and turned over to Canadian law enforcement authorities.


10/07/2014

WASHINGTON, DC



CHILD EXPLOITATION


ICE expands reach of smartphone app designed to locate child predators and rescue their victims
The first U.S. federal law enforcement app designed to seek the public's help with fugitive and unknown suspected child predators is now available for Android smartphones, and in Spanish for both Apple and Android versions.


10/07/2014

LAREDO, TX



HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING


South Texas jury convicts South Carolina man for smuggling 23 aliens
Henry Gill, 44, from South Carolina was found guilty following a two-day trial that started Oct.5.


10/07/2014

BROWNSVILLE, TX



CONTRABAND


Members of south Texas drug trafficking organization sentenced to federal prison
Francisco Javier Maya, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Hilda G. Tagle Oct. 7 to 189 months for the conspiracy charge and 189 months on the possession charge.

10/06/2014

CHICAGO, IL



OTHER


Suburban Chicago man arrested for allegedly attempting to support terrorism overseas
Mohammed Hamzah Khan, 19, a U.S. citizen from Bolingbrook, Illinois, was charged with attempting to join the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), aka the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).


10/06/2014

WASHINGTON, DC



INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS


3 east Texas residents indicted in prescription drug smuggling ring
According to the indictment, the defendants conspired to smuggle at least 30 known shipments, totaling about 100,000 pills, from China to Texas. As alleged in the indictment, the shipments contained bogus imitations of Xanax, Valium, sibutramine, Cialis, Viagra and Stilnox (which is marketed in the United States as Ambien). None of the pills seized and tested were legitimate; all either contained incorrect active ingredients or were sub-potent.


10/06/2014

WASHINGTON, DC



OTHER


ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending Oct. 3, 2014
ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending Oct. 3, 2014


10/06/2014

NEW ORLEANS, LA



CHILD EXPLOITATION


NJ man sentenced to 18 years for conspiring to produce child pornography
Stanley Zdon III, 28, of Tuckerton, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty to the charge in March. As part of his guilty plea, Zdon admitted that from December 2012 to October 2013 he conspired to produce child pornography with Jonathan Johnson, the administrator of the enterprise in Abita Springs.



10/03/2014

HOUSTON, TX



ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL


ICE Houston deports Mexican man wanted for murder and attempted murder
Juan Morales-Boyzo, 40, was escorted to the Juarez Lincoln Port in Laredo, Texas, and turned over to Mexican law enforcement authorities (Procuraduría General de la República) Oct. 3.


10/03/2014

WASHINGTON, DC



INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS


Intellectual Property Rights Center warns of counterfeit auto parts
These counterfeit parts usually bear the trademark of a legitimate and trusted brand, but they were produced by another party and are not made to the specifications of the original equipment manufacturer. They're often produced illegally and sold at a profit to fund other criminal activities.


10/03/2014

TUCSON, AZ



CHILD EXPLOITATION


German man sentenced to more than 15 years in prison for child sex tourism
Karsten Puschmann, 51, of Kiel, Germany, appeared in federal court Friday. In addition to the 189-month jail term, Puschmann will be subject to a lifetime of supervision following his release from prison. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.


10/02/2014

TYLER, TX



CHILD EXPLOITATION


North Texas photographer pleads guilty to sexually exploiting children
Todd Fleming, 54, from McKinney, Texas, pleaded guilty Oct. 2 to sexually exploiting children before U.S. Magistrate Judge K. Nicole Mitchell.

10/02/2014

TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS



OTHER


HSI, Honduran authorities arrest 2 fugitives wanted on homicide charges
Victor Samuel Vargas Giron, 20, and Wilson Adalid Beltran, 24, allegedly raped and killed Escolasticos Bustillo Landero. According to local police, the homicide occurred in June outside of a local bar in Cifuentes. It's alleged that Vargas Giron and Adalid Beltran used a bicycle chain to choke Landero.


10/02/2014

DENVER, CO



ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL


ICE officers in Denver arrest Salvadoran illegally carrying a loaded handgun
Jorge Zavala-Yanes, 43, was arrested outside his place of employment in Aurora, Colorado, where he worked as a security guard. Zavala illegally possessed a loaded Glock 27 .40-caliber handgun at the time of his arrest.


10/02/2014

WASHINGTON, DC



FINANCIAL CRIMES


L.A. Fashion District businesses ordered to report more cash transactions as part of massive money laundering investigation
The GTO, which will go into effect Oct. 9, was sought by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California, which is working with HSI and the Internal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigation division (IRS Criminal Investigation) to fight money laundering schemes designed to allow international drug cartels in Central America and South America to reach drug proceeds generated in the U.S.


10/02/2014

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK



FINANCIAL CRIMES


Oklahoma AG announces new division in partnership with HSI to combat money laundering in the state
The division will be a part of the Attorney General's Multicounty Grand Jury Unit, and it will provide Oklahoma with the first comprehensive, statewide focus on combating criminal money laundering activities.



10/02/2014

TYLER, TX



CHILD EXPLOITATION


North Texas photographer pleads guilty to sexually exploiting children
Todd Fleming, 54, from McKinney, Texas, pleaded guilty Oct. 2 to sexually exploiting children before U.S. Magistrate Judge K. Nicole Mitchell.


10/01/2014

SEATTLE, WA



INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS


Canadian sentenced for trafficking in counterfeit airbags
Abdul Masood Qayumi, 25, of Surrey, B.C., and his brother Abdul Masih Qayumi, 26, marketed and sold more than $33,000 worth of counterfeit Honda, BMW and Toyota airbags on eBay for about one year, according to court records. HSI special agents began their investigation after American Honda Motor Corporation alerted investigators of the brothers' online sales scheme.


10/01/2014

PHILADELPHIA, PA



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Jury finds Delaware man guilty of child sexual exploitation crimes
Christopher Steele, aka Mike Dozer, 33, was convicted for use of an interstate commerce facility to entice a minor to engage in sexual conduct, interstate travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, and receipt of child pornography.


10/01/2014

SAN FRANCISCO, CA



TRANSNATIONAL GANGS


Jury finds Bay Area gang members linked to triple murder guilty
The three defendants – including Victor Flores, 23, of Petaluma; Benjamin Campos-Gonzalez, 24, of San Mateo; and Armando Acosta, 29, of South San Francisco – were convicted of racketeering conspiracy.

10/01/2014

TRENTON, NJ



COUNTER PROLIFERATION INVESTIGATION UNIT


Former owner of New Jersey defense contractors charged with mail fraud, violating arms export controls
Alper Calik, 38, of Ankara, Turkey, was arrested upon his entry into the United States Sept. 13 and charged with two counts of mail fraud for submitting fraudulent contracts to the DoD claiming to produce items in the United States that were actually manufactured in Turkey. Calik also faces one count of violating the Arms Export Control Act for downloading thousands of military technical drawings while outside the United States without prior approval from the U.S. Department of State.


10/01/2014

NORFOLK, VA



CHILD EXPLOITATION


Portsmouth woman sentenced to 15 years for her role in child pornography conspiracy
According to court documents, Nina Renee Calderon, 23, became involved in a conspiracy to produce child pornography when she was contacted by co-conspirator Robert Harold Scott Jr. under his online identity of "Mike Pyro."


10/01/2014

CHICAGO, IL



CONTRABAND


22 defendants charged for their alleged roles in connected drug rings extending from Mexico to Chicago and across US
This investigation resulted in the seizure of more than $3.9 million from a residence in suburban Park Ridge in April 2013, as well as dozens of kilograms of cocaine, heroin and marijuana.

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