News Releases and Statements

HSI Cheyenne investigates a wide range of crimes including cybercrime, child pornography, money laundering and cultural property. Additionally, special agents are routinely on high alert for drug trafficking as Wyoming is a “pass through” state for criminals who make their way from source states to end-user states such as California or Midwestern states such as Minnesota.

Marquist Fulcher, aka “Keezie,” 28, of Fort Worth, Texas, faces a maximum penalty of up to life in prison and a $250,000 fine.  Fulcher will remain in custody pending sentencing which is set for Jan. 31, 2018.

In the early morning hours of Oct. 17, ERO deportation officers from the New York-based Fugitive Operations Team, arrested Pavlo Chonka at a Brooklyn, New York, residence without incident. Chonka is wanted by law enforcement authorities in Ukraine for manslaughter. He entered the United States lawfully in 2015 as a visitor, before violating the terms of his visit.

The following individuals were charged and made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey L. Cureton: Pierre Lagrone, aka “P” or “Pedro,” 33; Robert Roseberry, aka “King Rose,” 29; Herman Sanders, aka “Pooh,” 29; Reginald Smith, aka “Green Light,” 28; Demarcus Davis, aka “Zigg,” 25; Kentrell Davis, aka “Zeal,” 24; Cederrick Clarkson, aka “Ced” or “Spazz,” 25; and Terroderick Watts, aka “Silk,” 27.

Federal grand juries in the Southern District of Mississippi and the District of North Dakota returned indictments, unsealed yesterday, against two Chinese nationals and their North American based traffickers and distributors for separate conspiracies to distribute large quantities of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues and other opiate substances in the United States. 

James Matthew Bradley Jr., 61, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry Bemporad, Oct. 16, and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to transport aliens resulting in death and one count of transporting aliens resulting in death.

Bonifacio Cano Perez, 43, an illegally present Mexican national, entered ICE custody Aug. 22. He was subsequently ordered removed from the United States by a federal immigration judge Oct. 3, after receiving appropriate legal process before the federal immigration courts.

"This dedicated group of special agents are among the best and brightest at HSI and are very deserving of this honor," said Steve Francis, special agent in charge of HSI Detroit, which oversees Michigan and Ohio. " The significant results of these task forces speak for themselves and to the powerful force multiplier of collaboration. I commend all the award recipients honored today and I’m proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with every member of the task force.”

Amna Cheema, 37, from Pakistan pleaded guilty to the charges Oct. 10, 2017, before U.S. District Judge Renee Harris Toliver. Cheema will remain in custody pending sentencing which is set for Jan. 22, 2018. Co-defendant Bilal Khaleeq, 47, is scheduled to begin trial Dec. 11, 2017 for his role in the conspiracy. If convicted, Khaleeq faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

Jesus Guitron-Aguilera, 56, who has been wanted by ICE since 2010, was removed aboard a charter flight coordinated by ICE Air Operations (IAO) Unit.

Fernando Ardila Rueda (Ardila), 49, of Miami, Florida, pleaded guilty Oct. 11 in a Houston federal court to one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and one count of violating the FCPA. U.S. District Judge Gray H. Miller accepted the guilty plea. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 8, 2018. 

Angelo Cruz-Salazar, 31, a citizen and national of Mexico, was convicted in 2011, of endangering the welfare of a child under the age of 17, and sentenced to nine months imprisonment.

Rene Mauricio Joya-Villata aka Rafael Antonio Joya-Saenz, 26, was arrested without incident Aug. 24 at his residence in League City (Texas). A cooperative lead provided by the Texas Anti-Gang (TAG) program led to his arrest. He was immediately remanded to the custody of ICE in Houston pending his removal from the United States.

Un Hag Baeg, 58, of Marina del Rey, Calif., a Korean national currently living in the U.S., pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiring to defraud the United States government by evading federal excise taxes due on 143 million cigarettes sold domestically, but which the co-conspirators claimed were destined for cargo vessels sailing out of the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

As alleged in the complaint, Notations repeatedly ignored warning signs that its business partner, which imported garments from China, was engaged in a scheme to underpay customs duties owed on the imported garments it sold to Notations.  Pursuant to the settlement, Notations admits and accepts responsibility for failing to act in response to indications of fraudulent conduct, agrees to pay $1 million in damages, and agrees to implement measures designed to prevent future fraud by Notations or its business partners.

Jose Gonzalez-Avila, 22, formerly of Escondido, was transferred to the custody of Mexican authorities Sept. 29 by San Diego-based officers from the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Special Response Team. Gonzalez-Avila is charged in a Mexican arrest warrant issued Oct. 1, 2012, for a homicide that occurred July 19, 2012, in Guanajuato, Mexico.

In the midst of stopping to help, Deportation Officers Sanchez, Gil and Colley jumped back in their vehicles to track down the suspect. Nichols and Detention and Deportation Officer Khan, provided aid to the victim and called 9-1-1. Another deportation officer directed traffic around the scene.

Marco Antonio Delgado, aka Marco Delgado Licon, 51, was ordered to serve half of the imposed 10-year prison sentence consecutively to a 16-year prison term he is serving in a separate federal case.

After 26 years of enforcing federal immigration and customs laws, Newark Special Agent in Charge Terrence S. Opiola is retiring from federal service, effective Sept. 30.

Jessica Godoy Ramos, 36, was taken into custody pursuant to a criminal complaint that charges her with mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. Ramos is expected to make her initial appearance this afternoon in U.S. District Court.