News Releases and Statements

An investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has resulted in a civil forfeiture complaint alleging that $47 million in proceeds from the sale of nearly one million barrels of Iranian petroleum is forfeitable as property of, or affording a person a source of influence over, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or its Qods Force, designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations.

Jean Morose Viliena, 52, was convicted of three counts of visa fraud. Sentencing is scheduled for June 20, 2025.

John Washburn, general manager of San Diego Powder & Protective Coatings in El Cajon, and three employees, made their first appearances in federal court March 28 to face immigration charges stemming from a search warrant that was served by federal agents at the property March 27.

Steven Beltran-Lugo, of Glendale, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport illegal aliens for profit placing in jeopardy the life of any person and resulting in death on Oct. 1, 2024.

Officers with ICE Washington, D.C.’s Fugitive Operations Team arrested Walter Bladimir Lopez-Ayala in Sterling Feb. 20.

Officers with ICE Boston’s Hartford field office arrested Yosmar Imai Bravo-Ortiz, 21, in Hartford Feb. 20.

ICE removed two illegally present Jamaican nationals convicted of felony offenses, Feb. 27.

ICE arrested Jose Oswaldo Castro-Castro, 31, an illegally present Ecuadoran national charged with aggravated rape of a child, ten-year age difference and indecent assault and battery on a child under 14.

ICE removed Salvadoran national and foreign fugitive Jose Eduardo Moran-Garcia, 28, to El Salvador via air transportation, March 28.

ICE arrested Ramiro Guevara, a 46-year-old Mexican national and illegal alien March 26 who was involved in a 2014 vehicle accident, resulting in the death of 13-year-old girl.

Antonio Espinoza Zarate, 55, also known as “El Gato,” and his son, Francisco Javier Espinoza Galindo, 31, were arrested and charged in U.S. District Court, Central District of California.

Flavio Alexandre Alves, also known as “Ronaldo,” 41, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Worcester on a criminal complaint charging him with conspiracy to bring aliens to and transport aliens within the United States for the purpose of commercial or financial gain in violation of law.

Nicholes Scott Newman, 42, of Hilliard, was also ordered to serve a 10-year term of supervised release and register as a sex offender.

Noe Gonzalez-Martinez, also known as Tocayo, 41, will serve the rest of his life plus 60 months in federal prison for his role in multiple convictions related to a murder-for-hire scheme that brought three sicarios, or hitmen, across the U.S. border into Laredo.

Sergio Humberto Ramos, 73, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, admitting that he was paid to store the drugs at a trucking yard near Nogales until they could be transported.

ICE removed Mexican citizen and foreign fugitive Jairo Ivan Paredes Cota, 43,  to Mexico via ground transportation, March 27. Paredes is wanted in his home country for the sexual assault of a minor.

ICE and its partners arrested 72 illegal aliens during the operation charged or convicted of a criminal offense while illegally present in the U.S.

ICE removed Luis Gerardo Pelaez Llivichuzca, a citizen of Ecuador with a final order of removal wanted by his home country for murder, to Ecuador on March 25.

ICE is focused on smart, effective immigration enforcement that protects the U.S. homeland through the arrest and removal of those individuals who compromise the safety of our communities and the integrity of our immigration laws.

ICE removed Juan Jasso-Botello, a 44-year-old Mexican fugitive wanted in Mexico for family violence, March 25.

ICE apprehended an illegally present Brazilian alien charged with assault and battery on a family member when officers arrested Weliton Pires-Dos Santos, 39, in Framingham Jan. 26.

ICE removed Kevin Estuardo Escobar Chanas, a 27-year-old foreign fugitive wanted for criminal impersonation in Guatemala, from the United States March 26.

ICE apprehended Pierre Maurice Al-Asmar, an illegally present Lebanese national charged with assault and battery and indecent assault and battery on person 14 or over, Jan. 25 in Lakeville.

ICE apprehended Ming Xi Zhang, a Chinese national who was sentenced last year for acting as an agent of a foreign government without prior notification to the U.S. Attorney General. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Newark arrested and detained him on March 24 in Newark, New Jersey He remains in ICE custody. 

ICE, with assistance from FBI Newark, arrested Dirlei Da Luz Da Silva, a native and citizen of Brazil, wanted by Brazilian authorities for drug trafficking related crimes.