News Releases and Statements

During the operation, ICE’s ERO arrested 232 individuals for violating U.S. immigration laws. Of those arrested, 180 were either convicted criminals, had been issued a final order of removal and failed to depart the United States, or had been previously removed from the United States and returned illegally.

As the 41^st Arizona business to sign up for IMAGE, Spindle Cooling has agreed to partner with ICE and perform the actions required to obtain IMAGE certification. These actions include conducting a self-assessment of hiring practices to uncover vulnerabilities that could be exploited by unauthorized workers; enrolling in E-verify, an employment eligibility verification program; training staff on IMAGE Best Employment Practices and the use of new screening tools; and undergoing a Form I-9 audit by ICE.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations Mexico City and the Department of Justice’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development Assistance and Training (DOJ-OPDAT) hosted the first in a series of four money laundering and asset forfeiture courses Feb. 13-15 in Aguascalientes, Mexico.

Frederik Barbieri, 36, of Ft. Pierce, Florida, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, one count of delivering firearms to a contract carrier without notification, that shipment contained firearms, one count of smuggling firearms and fire accessories from the United States to Brazil and one count of exporting firearms and firearms accessories without a license

According to charges filed on June 14, 2017, Kay Ann Locke, of Edmond, Oklahoma, worked as a bookkeeper at Delta Promotions Team Corporation in Oklahoma City from 2005 until April 2016.

For those who call it home, including personnel from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Wilmington field office, the area’s southern charm provides the perfect combination of being a great place to live and work.

In addition to whatever prison sentence is imposed, John Bevel, 42, will also be on supervised release for a term to be determined by the court.  He must also to register as a sex offender after he completes his prison sentence.

Jesus Gerardo Prieto Jr, 38, was arrested in October 2017 on a criminal complaint charging him with heroin and methamphetamine trafficking offenses on Oct. 17, 2017, in Doña Ana County, New Mexico.

The women and men of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) observe African American History Month throughout February to celebrate the achievements of their fellow citizens and the vital parts they have played in the history of the United States.

On Nov. 7, 2017, Edwin Vergara-Cedillo, 32, pleaded guilty to two federal charges: illegal re-entry after deportation, and possessing a firearm by an illegal alien.

Yong “David” Lu, 54, of Arcadia, and Wenzhu Guo, also 54, of Monterey Park, were arrested Thursday morning by federal authorities.

During this operation, ERO deportation officers made arrests in the following Texas cities and towns:  Austin (45), San Antonio (41), Rio Grande Valley (37), Laredo (15) and Waco (7).

Douglas A. Willis, 54, of Naperville, Illinois, was sentenced Feb. 8 to 48 months federal in prison for possessing child pornography.  He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release.  

John Porter, 63, of Marple Township, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 60 months incarceration followed by five years’ supervised release. Additionally, Porter is required to pay $54,500.00 in victim restitution, a $5,000.00 penalty assessment fee under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (JVTA), and a court assessment fee of $200.00.  Porter was required to begin his sentence at the close of his hearing.

Luis Ramirez-Marcano, 59, was transported Feb. 17, to KRMC when ICE Health Service Corps (IHSC) medical personnel at the Krome Detention Center determined he should be taken to an emergency room for treatment after complaints of abdominal pain. Later that day, staff at KRMC admitted Ramirez-Marcano for further evaluation and treatment.

Ying Huang, 23, a Chinese citizen, pleaded guilty Jan. 11 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to one count of passport fraud, one count of mail fraud, and aiding and abetting.

Gerardo Leal, 33, U.S. citizen who was residing in Mexico, was sentenced Feb. 21 by U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera to 36 months in federal prison and two years of supervised release. Leal pleaded guilty to the charges July 19, 2017.  In handing down the sentence, Judge Olvera noted no matter the difficulties Leal may be encountering, he should do some prison time because there was no reason that existed in this world to break the law.

Jorge Barrera, 33, from Garciasville, Texas, was sentenced Feb. 21 by U.S. District Rolando Olvera to 48 months in federal prison and to two years of supervised release.  Barrera pleaded guilty to the cocaine trafficking charges Nov. 16, 2017.

Kyle Dale Ritsema, 35, of Land O’Lakes, was arrested Feb. 13, 2018, by HSI special agents for production, possession, and distribution of child pornography.

Gonzalo “El Chano” Juarez-Limon, 48, was turned over to Mexican authorities at the international boundary on top of El Paso’s Stanton International Bridge. He is wanted in Mexico for the 1996 murder of Manuel Monrroy Islas, according to a Mexican arrest warrant.

Daniel Huzinec, 26, of Buffalo, NY was convicted of receipt of child pornography after sharing photographs of male children engaged in sexually explicit conduct on a peer-to-peer website.