News Releases and Statements

“Nothing can erase the pain and sorrow caused by Flores’ vicious, unrepentant, criminal behavior," U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag said. “I hope that the life sentence imposed against him brings some measure of relief to Flores’ victims and their families, and that they will at least feel a sense of justice. I am extraordinarily proud of the professionalism and bravery demonstrated by the men and women of law enforcement in this case. They are true heroes and we are especially thankful for their service and commitment to the pursuit of justice."

Sam Rafic Ghanem, age 45, is a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Lebanon. He owned and operated Washington Movers International, also known as Washington Movers Inc., a freight forwarding business located in District Heights.

Abelardo Delmundo, 53, of Toms River, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Arms Export Control Act and U.S. anti-smuggling laws.

Kyle Unterbrink, 47, was also ordered to pay $51,000 restitution to the identified victims of the child pornography he possessed and distributed. He is to be placed on supervised release for 10 years after he completes his prison term.

On March 20, the U.S. Coast Guard encountered Nash on board a 26-foot vessel attempting to enter the country illegally. Nash was detained, processed by Border Patrol and subsequently transferred to ICE custody for his removal.

Emilio Villalobos-Alcala, 29, and Jose Eluid Lugo-Lopez, 27, both from Mexico, were sentenced April 30 to life imprisonment for the following convictions: conspiracy to import marijuana, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and smuggling goods from the United States.

Suresh Hiranandaney, 61, Lalit Chabria, 54, and Anita Chabria, 50, each pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy to commit student visa fraud; one count of conspiracy to commit student fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit student financial aid fraud. Each count carries a maximum of five years in prison. The defendants’ sentencing date is scheduled for Sept. 10.

On Instagram, ICE will share images from across the agency to showcase the important work carried out every day by our more than 20,000 dedicated employees.

Paulino Ramirez-Granados, who had been on the most wanted list since 2010, was charged in the Eastern District of New York with sex trafficking, alien smuggling, money laundering and conspiracy to import aliens.

In addition to his prison sentence, Albert Hibbert, 44, was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, to supervised release for 20 years after he completes his prison sentence, and to register as a sex offender.

Damion Hard, 40, aka World, and Aaron Granton, 40, aka E-Bay of Brooklyn, face a mandatory life imprisonment when sentenced. Granton was also convicted for his participation in a murder-for-hire scheme.

Genadi Yagodayev, 37, is the fourth conviction in connection with the investigation into Rockford Group.

Akbar Ahmad Sherzai, 50, of Centerville, Virginia, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. Sherzai offered to bribe a U.S. Army serviceman to falsify documents to reflect the successful delivery of fuel shipments that Army records indicate were never delivered.

The indictment was returned under seal April 29 and unsealed upon the arrest of Avery Lamarr Ayers, 48. He is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen Wm. Smith April 30.

As detailed in the affidavits in support of those search warrants, federal agents are investigating multiple Chinese maternity operations in Southern California for suspected immigration fraud and tax fraud, as well as failing to report foreign bank accounts in China and Hong Kong.

Vincente Osorio, 61, of Chicago, was sentenced April 29 to 120 months in federal prison for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, and attempting to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine.

On any given day, you will find Taekuk Cho, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) attaché in South Korea, doing what he does best: combatting crime.

In order to be certified by SEVP to enroll international students, U.S. schools must nominate a designated school official to serve as a liaison between the school and SEVP.

Mark Stamps, of Garland, Texas, 54, pleaded guilty in May 2014 to a felony information charging one count of transporting and shipping child pornography. He has been in custody since his arrest in April 2014.

Those indicted are charged with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) of marijuana between June 1, 2012 and the date of the indictment. Rodriguez and Elijio Perez are also charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering on Dec. 2, 2013.

Wilson Lopez-Rodriguez, 32, aka Carlos Alberto Lopez-Rodriguez, was removed to Honduras after being driven from Dallas to Houston, Texas, April 27. From Houston, he was flown to Tegucigalpa, Honduras, by ICE Air Operations, and then turned over to Honduran officials the same day.

HSI special agents took Ronald Mays, 63, into custody to face three counts of attempted possession of cocaine and distribution charges for delivery to Delaware County, Pennsylvania on or about Jan. 6, 2014, Feb. 12, 2014, and May 6, 2014.

Gilber Alonzo Hernandez Lopez, of Guatemala, was charged with murder for his alleged involvement in the 2013 murder of his cousin. According to the Guatemalan Policia Nacional Civil (PNC), in October 2013, Lopez and two other men argued with Lopez’s cousin for an unknown reason.

Steve Jacob Joseph and his co-conspirator, Nicole Felicia Clark, were found guilty Dec. 5 after a three-day trial by a federal jury. According to court records and evidence at trial, Joseph and Clark were both members of a large-scale drug trafficking organization that transported cocaine and heroin to the Norfolk area from New York and Atlanta.

Homero Gonzalez-Carranza, 30, a citizen of Mexico, pleaded guilty to being a boss for transporting illegal aliens from the Rio Grande Valley to Houston from January 2007 until January 2015. Illegal aliens were harbored at stash houses in Houston until being transported to their final destinations throughout the United States.