News Releases and Statements

Based on information gleaned from an audit, HSI special agents determined between approximately March 2011 and 2012, Juan Carlos Angel hired employees who were citizens of other countries and not legally permitted to work in the United States at his restaurants.

A jury convicted Andrew Blane Fields, 62, of Lutz, on five counts of sex trafficking and three counts of narcotics distribution Nov. 6. He distributed controlled substances to victims to coerce them to participate in his sex trafficking scheme.

Armando Ivan Palomares-Castro, 37, was sentenced Jan. 21 by Chief U.S. District Judge Raner Collins to 15 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. His co-defendant, Francisco Javier Labrador-Valderrama, 21, was sentenced in October to nine years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

John C. Gaglione Jr., 49, must also pay a monetary judgment of $365,265, the proceeds of his criminal conduct, and $180,000 in restitution.

Three owners of a Kansas framing company, Advantage Framing Systems Inc., were each sentenced to more than a year in prison in federal court Wednesday for harboring undocumented workers.

Ramin Bibian, a Los Angeles-area man who admitted operating two websites that sold counterfeit IDs, was sentenced in federal court Tuesday to 33 months in prison for transferring false identification documents.

On Oct. 23, Mark Luscombe of Verwood, England, had initiated online conversations with an undercover HSI special agent in San Jose, Calif., who was posing as the father of a 9-year-old girl. Luscombe distributed 93 images and videos depicting child pornography to the undercover HSI agent, who then contacted the Dorset Police.

Authorities allege the drug trafficking organization targeted in the probe was cultivating marijuana and distributing methamphetamine.

Richard Hesles Jr, 34, and Damien Hesles, 24, of Eagle Pass, Texas, appeared before U.S. District Judge Alia Moses who sentenced the brothers Jan. 28. Richard was sentenced to 10 years; his brother Damien was sentenced to nine years and two months. Aside from their sentences, Judge Moses ordered Richard to pay a $7,500 fine.

Thaddeus Vaskas, a repeat child pornographer from Tunkhannock, was sentenced Tuesday to 14 years in prison for possession of child pornography following an investigation by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Robert Jacaman Sr. 60, owner of Jacaman Guns and Ammo, as a convicted felon, surrendered his federal firearms license. He is no longer a firearms dealer and is prohibited from possessing firearms, ammunition and destructive devices.

Two back-to-back episodes of Border Rico, broadcast on the Travel Channel Jan. 28, show special agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) on the front lines in Puerto Rico, arresting and disrupting drug trafficking and criminal organizations.

Tod Hipsher, 51, of Irvine, pleaded guilty to a 1-count criminal information charging him with conducting an illegal gambling business.

The owner of a Los Angeles employment agency, Lilia Tabafunda, was sentenced Monday morning to two years in prison on charges stemming from a probe that revealed she filed bogus work visa petitions on behalf of dozens of aliens she falsely claimed had been recruited for positions with prominent hospitals and non-profit organizations.

A Pennsylvania man, Hao Yang, pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods, including counterfeit military items.

Susan McCormick, special agent in charge of HSI Tampa, A. Lee Bentley III, acting U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Florida, and Adolfo Barattolo, the consul general for the Italian Consulate in Miami, participated in the repatriation ceremony.

Ramiro Adame-Lopez, 51, was living and working illegally in the United States. ERO officers turned him over to Mexican authorities on El Paso's Stanton Street Bridge about 10 a.m. at the U.S.-Mexico international border.

Timothy Murray was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison Wednesday for possession and distribution of more than 650 movies and 450 images of child pornography. Murray had previously served as a Catholic priest before being removed when substantiated allegations of Murray's prior sexual abuse of a young boy came to light.

Nares Lekhakul, 36, a US lawful permanent resident living in Bellevue, will serve 24 months in prison and his brother Naris Lekhakul, 42, will serve 36 months.

Padraic Collins, 46, faces 15 to 30 years in prison if convicted.

Sergio Ramos-Lopez, 46, a Mexican national who most recently lived in the Bend area, pleaded guilty to the illegal reentry charge last September.

A forensic analysis of Don Osborne's computer revealed more than 1,000 images of child pornography. At the time of this offense, Osborne was on probation for a previous sex offense in Florida.

Two brothers, who operate six kiosks at a local mall, pleaded guilty Wednesday to trafficking in counterfeit goods.

HSI special agents arrested Raheem T. Creque, aka Shano, after they received information from the USVIPD regarding a complaint made by a 17-year-old female who claimed she was being blackmailed and sexually assaulted by Creque.

Under the escort of ERO officers, Pawel Wojciech Chrzanovski, 25, departed Wednesday on a commercial flight from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, and was turned over to law enforcement officials in Poland Jan. 23.