News Releases and Statements

Eso Razic, a native of the former Yugoslavia and subsequently a citizen of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, allegedly concealed his participation in paramilitary organizations during the 1990s Balkans conflict. 

Criminal convictions of those arrested included: felony grand larceny, firearms possession, drug possession, child endangerment, abuse, driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, and forgery.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced Thursday, Jan. 11, the participation of ICE's HSI in the Hezbollah Financing and Narcoterrorism Team, a new group of prosecutors and investigators tasked with investigating individuals and networks providing support to Hezbollah.

Recognizing these challenges, the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) and the Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA) worked with ICE to develop a new process to clarify that aliens held by these jurisdictions are held under the color of federal authority, thereby affording local law enforcement liability protection from potential litigation as a result of faithfully executing their public safety duties.

“The Trade” is scheduled to premiere on Showtime at 9 PM EST, Friday, Feb 2. 2018.

Longino Castillo, 27, and Isaiah Martinez, 20, both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Castillo was also convicted of possessing a machine-gun conversion device. Michael Molina, 25, Justin Ray Flores, 36, and Manuel Garcia, 31, all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a synthetic cannabinoid. Molina further admitted to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being felon possessing a firearm.

Luis Mendoza-Alarcon, 46, and co-defendant Giovanni Montijo-Dominguez, 37, also from Mexico, were both arrested Oct. 7, 2014, and charged by criminal complaint with cocaine trafficking.  They were indicted Nov. 5, 2014, and both were charged with cocaine trafficking; Montijo-Dominguez also was charged with illegal re-entry to the United States.

The indictment charges eight members of the Bonanno Family: Acting Boss Joseph Cammarano, Jr., Consigliere John Zancocchio, Joseph Sabella, George Tropiano, Albert Armetta, Domenick Miniero, Joseph Santapaolo, and Simone Esposito, all with with racketeering conspiracy involving a wide range of crimes, including extortion, loansharking, wire and mail fraud, narcotics distribution, and conspiracy to commit murder. Genovese Family member Ernest Montevecchi is charged with participating in that conspiracy as well. Several of the defendants and Luchese Family member Eugene Castelle are charged with conspiracy to commit extortion. Armetta is additionally charged with assault resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering, and aiding and abetting the same.

Paul Carter, 47, of Milwaukee, was sentenced Wednesday to 21 years in prison, reduced by three years for time served.  On Oct. 6, 2017, he pleaded guilty to four counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and one count of conspiracy to commit forced labor and sex trafficking.

Jesus Osorio, 43, from Laredo, was sentenced Jan. 10 by U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo to 87 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.

Ensuring each of its employees is legally authorized to work in the United States is one of many responsibilities facing every American business, from small start-up operations to our country’s largest and most prosperous corporations.

On Jan. 28, 2016, Jovo Asentic, 65, was ordered removed by a federal immigration judge after he failed to disclose his service in the Army of Republika Srpska (the Bosnian Serb Army, abbreviated VRS) during the 1992-1995 Bosnian conflict.  He purposely failed to disclose his VRS service in his U.S. immigration applications.

During this operation, ERO deportation officers made arrests in the following Illinois cities and towns: Chicago (9), Cicero (4), Hoffman Estates (1), Palatine (4), Park City (1), Rolling Meadows (2) and Round Lake Beach (1). All those arrested were men between the ages of 20 and 53.

CDF Corporation becomes the eleventh company in Massachusetts to date to sign on to the IMAGE program.

Ricardo Muñoz-Vega, 35, from Pesqueria, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, admitted to transporting methamphetamine across the Lincoln-Juarez Bridge in Laredo.

HSI Philadelphia was alerted by HSI Portland, Maine, that Jack Russel Bristol, 61, scheduled to travel from Philadelphia to the Philippines for the purposes of the sexual abuse of minor children.

An Indiana man was sentenced in federal court Thursday to more than five years in prison for hiring a pimp to transport a minor across state lines for prostitution. An Indiana man was sentenced in federal court Thursday to more than five years in prison for hiring a pimp to transport a minor across state lines for prostitution. 

The 11-count superseding indictment alleges that defendants – members and associates of the MS-13 – conspired to commit extortion through the use of threatened or actual force, violence or fear to intimidate their victims into paying money to the defendants and their co-conspirators.

Jeremy Crabtree, 41, from Fort Worth, was convicted last week on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. The conspiracy count carries a penalty of not less than 10 years or more than life in federal prison, and a $10 million fine.

Alejandro Garcia-Izazaga, aka “Flaco” and “Alex,” 29; Anthony Wayne Reiley, aka “Tony,” 49; Ivan Cruz-Martinez, 37; and Zacarias Blanco-Olea, 45, each pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge D. Gordon Bryant to one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Each faces a statutory penalty of not less than 10 years and up to life in federal prison, and a $10 million fine.

Olga Patricia Reyes, 30, from Laredo residing in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, and Leslie Chavira, 25, also from Laredo, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Guillermo R. Garcia Dec. 28. Both women were charged with transporting four unaccompanied minor children who are all citizens of Mexico.