News Releases and Statements

Federal and local authorities announced the indictment Thursday of 19 members of the "500 Block/C Street" gang on racketeering and other federal charges, alleging they engaged in a host of crimes, including murder, robbery and narcotics trafficking as part of a broader conspiracy to preserve the organization's power and protect its territory.

On Sunday, April 22, HSI special agents executed a federal search warrant at the Patapsco Flea Market at 1400 W. Patapsco Avenue in Baltimore as part of an ongoing criminal investigation.

Four Mexican nationals, including three suspected torture victims, were rescued from a human smuggling drop house Wednesday by special agents from ICE's Homeland Security Investigations assigned to the Phoenix Border Enforcement Security Task Force Drop House Response Group, with support from the Phoenix Police Department.

Nine Fresno-area residents were charged Thursday in a 37-count federal indictment for their role in a major counterfeit document ring uncovered as a result of a probe by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

A Washington, D.C., man pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen motor vehicles, following an investigation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Armando Ruben Avila was sentenced to more than 5 years in prison for possessing child pornography as the result of an investigation conducted by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). A forensic exam revealed at least 4,000 images and 50 videos of child pornography on Avila's computers.

Joseph Wright was taken into custody early this morning in connection with the discovery of two bodies, including Wright's mother, in Saugus, Mass., yesterday. Wright was taken into custody as he attempted to cross the U.S.-Canada border.

A 27-year-old southwest Texas man, Fernando Ochoa, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison Monday for alien smuggling that resulted in the death of a Honduran national. The case was investigated ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Border Patrol.

You'll find them in Arizona's most remote areas, brandishing firearms and bullet-proof vests. They are on the hunt for weapons traffickers or drug smugglers. But they're not law enforcement officers. They are bandit crews - criminals - who will do anything to make a profit,which often means murdering and stealing from other criminals in the desert.

A Canadian man was sentenced Wednesday for smuggling more than 800 grams of cocaine into the United States from Costa Rica.

James E. Johnston, 70, was also found guilty on two counts of receiving child pornography and on one count of possession of child pornography. The case is the product of an extensive investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

David Hernandez has been sentenced to 210 months in prison following his conviction for producing child pornography. The investigation was conducted by the Corpus Christi Police Department's (CCPD) Internet Crimes against Children Task Force (ICAC) and ICE's Homeland Security Investigations.

A Washington-based supplier of fresh organic herbs to nearly 2,700 grocers was sentenced Tuesday to $1 million in criminal fines and probation for hiring illegal aliens in a case spurred by a tip to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

James M. Woosley, the former acting director of intelligence for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), pleaded guilty to defrauding the government of more than $180,000 in a scheme involving fraudulent travel vouchers, and time and attendance claims.

Gary Lee Jackson, of Garland, Texas, was sentenced to 360 months in prison for possessing child pornography. During Jackson's sentencing hearing, an officer with the Garland Police Department (GPD) testified that Jackson admitted to him that he had sexually exploited children.

Hector Gonzalez, a Fresno man with ties to a local street gang, has pleaded guilty to charges of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. The charge stems from an investigation by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Fresno Police Department.

During a two-day targeted enforcement operation in the Boston area, officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested 13 convicted criminal aliens.

Jerry Earl Troupe Jr. of Humansville, Mo., was sentenced Monday to 15 years in prison for receiving child pornography over the Internet. The sentence resulted from an investigation conducted by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations and the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force.

Cassandra Casarez Fierros pleaded guilty Monday to making false statements to a government agency in connection with a scheme involving the sale of official California driver's licenses to ineligible individuals. The charges are the result of an investigation by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations and the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

Jason Farris of Anderson, Mo., was sentenced Monday to 17 years in prison for receiving child pornography over the Internet. The sentence resulted from an investigation conducted by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations and the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force.

Leticia Nunez, a vendor in the Los Angeles fashion district who operates two booths that sell designer handbags, jewelry and other accessories, is expected to be arraigned in federal court Friday afternoon following her indictment for trafficking in counterfeit goods.

Krassimir Simeonov, a Bulgarian man who fraudulently obtained U.S. citizenship in a marriage fraud scheme originating in South Carolina, had that citizenship revoked by a federal judge in Georgia Monday, following an investigation by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations.

Two special agents assigned to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Arizona were honored Thursday by the acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona as part of the Department of Justice's (DOJ) National Crime Victims' Rights Week.

Micah Monroe Argyle pleaded guilty Thursday to possession of child pornography following an investigation by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations and the Bonneville County Sheriff's Office. HSI special agents found more than 600 images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct on computers and storage devices seized from Argyle's home.

"Jannette Grant and Kimberly Nein have pleaded guilty of conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods. The two women conducted business as ""The Purse Lady"" and sold more than $1 million in fake brand name purses, wallets, sunglasses with a MSRP of more than $1.6 million."