News Releases and Statements

A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment Thursday charging three Fresno-area men with methamphetamine trafficking, following a multiagency probe that resulted in the seizure of nearly 100 pounds of the drug.

Michael Slattery Jr. pleaded guilty in federal court in Brooklyn, N.Y., Tuesday to conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act in relation to illegal rhinoceros horn trafficking. The guilty plea follows an investigation by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).

In October, undercover HSI special agents in Utah discovered a person in Canada, later identified as Lee David Hughes, sharing child pornography over the Internet.

Two Romanian natives residing in Queens, N.Y., pleaded guilty Wednesday to a scheme to steal account information from bank customers throughout New York, New Jersey and Connecticut by installing secret card-reading devices on ATMs.

From October 2012 to December 2012, Tarran Arnel Brinson conspired, attempted to recruit, and recruited, enticed, transported, provided, and obtained girls under of 18 years of age knowing the teenage girls would be caused to engage in commercial sex acts.

Fake auto parts, including counterfeit brake pads, tires, suspension components, steering linkages and other accessories, are also universally being distributed and sold to consumers in greater volumes, officials warned.

Joel Rodriguez Padilla, aka Isaias Rodriguez Padilla, a previously deported Mexican national illegally living in Denver, was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury this week on immigration and drug charges.

Jose Ramirez Chavez and Pablo Bernal Moreno were remanded to the custody of representatives from the Mexican Attorney General's Office by ICE ERO officers at the San Ysidro border crossing Tuesday morning under tight security.

Althea Angela Peart and Charmaine Anne King were arrested Monday for their roles in a fraudulent lottery scam.

Returning a nation's looted cultural heritage or stolen artwork protects the world's cultural heritage and knowledge of past civilizations. The Smithsonian Institution's Museum Conservation Institute provides HSI special agents with on-site training on how to handle, store, photograph and authenticate cultural property and works of art.

A Winter Park art gallery and owner were charged federally with obstruction of justice in connection with the importation of ancient Chinese artifacts that were interdicted at the Port of Miami.

The defendants - Ali Chahine, 43, Imad Elcheikhali, 48, Wassim Faisal, aka Michael Saissan, 44, Haissam Saleh, 28, Mehdi Saleh, 37, and Kassem Tohme, 40 - are charged with trademark counterfeiting and conspiracy.

Silverio Raymundo Izehuatl-Sarmiento, a 37-year-old Mexican national living in Sacramento, was sentenced Friday to 15 months in federal prison for producing fake identification documents and possessing document making equipment.

This week concluded the case against five individuals convicted in February of harboring illegal aliens in a conspiracy to obtain motor vehicle registrations, license plates and titles for illegal aliens.

According to court documents, Alfred E. Daking Jr., 70, communicated online with a 13-year-old boy from Phoenix. Daking sent more than 800 emails to the boy and attached child and adult pornography to some of the emails.

Alexander D. Vargas, 34, of Camden, pleaded guilty to stealing US government money during a scheme in which he purchased Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

This investigation was a joint effort between federal authorities and TDCJ's OIG to attempt to break the 'culture of corruption' that permeated the McConnell Unit Prison between 2005 to the present.

According to court documents, Bledar Bujilici, 34, twice refused to comply with an order of removal issued by an immigration judge.

In addition to his 190-month prison sentence, Martin Moreno, 53, was also ordered to pay a $20,000 fine.

Gjergj Kol Mihilli, 61, of Gilbert, was sentenced Monday to 51 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow, after previously pleading guilty to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft charges. In addition to the prison term, Snow ordered Mihilli to pay a fine of more than $302,000.

Elijah Fogle, 22, of Charlotte, N.C., was also ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release.

Michael J. Barndt, a Pennsylvania man who was a youth football coach, school cook and summer camp counselor at the time of his arrest, pleaded guilty Thursday to attempted enticement and coercion of a minor.

Levi Winston, 50, of Columbus, pleaded guilty May 2 to charges of conspiracy to possess and distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and money laundering.

Investigators seize nearly $12 million worth of marijuana and cocaine, arrest 3 suspects.

Lucas J. Reinmann, 34, of Boonton, was arrested by HSI special agents at his home. He appeared Wednesday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Dickson in Newark federal court and was released on a $150,000 bond.