News Releases and Statements

Iulian Petre aka “Julian Petre,” 51, of Waterville, Maine, was sentenced following an August 2017 jury trial conviction on nine federal criminal charges including six counts of Receipt of a Firearm in Interstate Commerce and three counts of Shipment of a Firearm in Foreign Commerce. Petre, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Romania,  purchased and received firearms from out-of-state sellers intending to unlawfully export them.

Determining citizenship and obtaining travel documents for detained individuals is often a cumbersome process which slows the deportation of foreign nationals held in ICE/ERO custody.  The eTD system streamlines the process with participating countries by electronically providing biographic and biometric information used to determine citizenship and/or nationality for individuals.  The system also allows consular officials to review and edit electronic travel documents, which can be signed using a signature pad.  Documents can be printed locally by ICE/ERO personnel at detention facilities or field offices. 

Sylvester Boston, Jr., was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison for his role in the scheme. The defendants were charged in 2014 in a 17-count indictment for running in a large-scale Ecstasy distribution ring run from May 2013 through April 2014.

Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) on Monday presented a certificate to Rockwall County to become the first Texas county to become an “IMAGE” member.

Ronald Greenland, 55, initially entered the United States lawfully in 1972, but lost that status due to multiple criminal convictions in Connecticut, Florida, and New York. On February 23, 2007, an immigration judge ordered Greenland deported to Jamaica. On February 26, 2009, ICE removed Greenland to Jamaica. Greenland unlawfully reentered the U.S. at an unknown place, on an unknown date, following his deportation.

John B. Alwood, 54, of Lewes, Delaware, was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison followed by 10 years of supervised release.

The new “West Texas Panhandle Border Enforcement Security Task Force,” (BEST) based in San Angelo, is designed to formalize and enhance already-existing relationships with local, state, federal and tribal law enforcement agencies to combat Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCO).  This latest BEST task force extends from Crockett and Sutton counties in central Texas all the way north to the southern border of Oklahoma.

Mateo Raymond Flores III, aka Lawrence Flores, aka Arturo Flores, aka Rogelio Cadena, aka Gordo, aka Mr. G, 49, from San Angelo, was a fugitive on state charges and living in Mexico at the time of indictment.

On April 2, Carlos Efrén Reyes-Rosado, aka Farruko, 27, traveled by helicopter from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico. When Reyes-Rosado filled out the CBP 6059B customs declaration form, he indicated that he was not carrying more than $10,000.

Rodolfo Quiambao, the former President and CEO of the engineering and electrical design firm Rudell & Associates, Inc. (Rudell), was sentenced for his role in a scheme to pay bribes and kickbacks to supervisors at Consolidated Edison of New York (Con Ed) in exchange for receiving lucrative contracts and other benefits from the public utility services provider.  Quiambao was also sentenced to pay a $125,000 fine and more than $4.5 million in restitution to the IRS.  At the time of his guilty plea in March 2016, Quiambao agreed to forfeit $1 million in criminal proceeds.

Anibal Collazo, 24, of Springfield, Massachusetts and Berney Bermudez, 39, of Chicopee, Massachusetts, were arrested Tuesday after local authorities seized a kilo of cocaine with an approximate street-level value of $80,000 in their possession.

Carlos Guerrero, 45, from San Juan, Texas, was sentenced March 26 by U.S. District Judge Ricardo H. Hinojosa to serve 240 months. The court found Guerrero to be a leader/organizer within the drug trafficking organization.

James Pepion, of Portland, was sentenced in federal court Wednesday to four months in prison followed by three years supervised release for selling counterfeit Nike sneakers online and laundering his proceeds.

The jury convicted Pierre Lagrone, aka “P” or “Pedro,” 33, on one count of conspiracy to sex traffic children, four counts of sex trafficking of children and one count of possessing child pornography. Lagrone faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison and a $1 million fine.

Jose Santillan, 25, of Amarillo, Texas, has been in custody since his arrest in April 2017.  Santillan was convicted in December 2017, following a three-day trial, on one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of pure methamphetamine.

Diego Morales-Ramirez, 25, a citizen of Mexico was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade to 120 months in federal prison following his guilty plea in August 2017 to one count of possession with intent to distribute a schedule II controlled substance (50 grams or more of methamphetamine).

Shyniquah Lightner, 26, and Malik Hudson, 21, were charged by indictment in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to the aforementioned violations.

Josue Diaz-Orellana, 22, Luis Reyes-Castillo, a/k/a “Molesto,” 24, David Perez-Manchame, a/k/a “Herbi” and “Walter Melendez,” 19, and Miguel Torres-Escobar, 20, are charged with assault with intent to commit murder, kidnapping, and discharging a firearm during, and in relation to a crime of violence.

The enforcement action was the culmination of an investigation of an illegal tax and customs diversion scheme involving the diversion of petroleum tankers, prior to exiting Kenya to Uganda, and other neighboring countries.

Tobias Diggs, 24, of Chicago, Marvon Hamberlin, 39, of Chicago, and Joshua McClellan, 29, of Oak Lawn, Illinois, are charged with robbery and robbery conspiracy; transporting stolen goods; and using, carrying, and brandishing firearms during a crime of violence.