News Releases and Statements

According to court documents, from 2016, the drug trafficking organization distributed cocaine base, commonly known as crack, heroin, cocaine and marijuana, within the Franklin D. Roosevelt Public Housing Project (PHP) and other areas in the municipality of Mayagüez, all for financial gain and profit. 

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers removed a 30-year-old Mexican national and turned him over to law enforcement authorities in Mexico Monday. Pedro Ramirez Morales, aka Diego Perez Ramirez, is wanted in Mexico for homicide, making him a public safety enforcement priority for ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

A U.S.-Canada task force dedicated to disrupting and dismantling the illegal movement of firearms, ammunition, and explosive weapons across the U.S.-Canadian border was announced today by U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) in another step forward to address gun smuggling and trafficking.

In total, 37 individuals have been charged in the large-scale conspiracy to distribute heroin, methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine that began as early as 2018 and was orchestrated from within the Tennessee state prison system. Other charges resulting from the investigation include kidnapping, money laundering, making threats by electronic communication, and firearms violations.

Operation Leather Mitt targeted the demand for child sex crimes and human trafficking in the area.

The IPR Center, DoJ and the leading manufactures of the COVID-19 vaccine, are investigating reports of these fraudulent COVID-19 vaccine surveys enticing consumers to provide personal information with the promise of a prize or cash at the conclusion of the survey.

Usama Darwich Hamade, 55, finished his sentence with the Department of Corrections and was taken into ICE custody to effect his removal.

ICE today announced an extension of the flexibilities in rules related to Form I-9 compliance that was initially granted last year.  Due to the continued precautions related to COVID-19, the DHS will extend this policy until May 31, 2021.

Those charged in the federal criminal complaint are: Omar Alberto Navarro, 38, of Arvin; David Delgado Gonzalez, 37, of Bakersfield; Amayrani Jared Arreguin, 24, of Bakersfield; Lizette Mendez, 31, of Delano; Mayra Guadalupe Galvan, 31, of Delano; Miguel Angel Martinez, 26, of Bakersfield; Randal Jason Newell, 41, of Bakersfield; Daniel Armendariz Mercado, 31, of Bakersfield, and James Scott Gordon, 47, of Chico.

As the result of an extensive probe by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles, supported by multiple federal, state and local law enforcement partners across the U.S., Anuj Mahendrabhai Patel, 31, a.k.a. “Mike” and “Indio,” of Lake Elsinore, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud.

ICE officers removed three public safety threats who combined have criminal convictions by the state of Washington that include child molestation, rape of a child, and sex abuse. All three Mexican citizens and were removed to Mexico, March 23.

Conrado Virgen Mendoza, 37, was sentenced today to 21 months in prison for conspiring with others to assist his brother in fleeing to Mexico to avoid prosecution for the murder of Newman Police Corporal Ronil Singh during a traffic stop and for possessing false immigration documents.

Patistan-Perez entered ICE custody Feb. 10. On March 16, an immigration judge ordered Patistan-Perez removed to Mexico.

According to court documents, Hassan Kanyike, 29, of Santa Clarita, admitted that he submitted six fraudulent PPP loan applications and two fraudulent EIDL applications.

Fredy Alonzo Mira Perez, a/k/a Fredy Colas 54, of Medellín, Colombia, was sentenced by the U.S. District Court in Boston to seven years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $25,000 fine, and forfeiture of $4 million.

HSI agents arrested Austin Kidd, 27, March 17, 2021, at his residence. After appearing before a U.S. Magistrate Judge, he was ordered held in custody pending trial.

Juan Manuel Enriquez-Martinez, 40, was convicted June 23, 2015 in the Wasco County Circuit Court of Oregon of attempting to commit sexual penetration and for attempting to commit sexual abuse in the first degree for which respective sentences of 56 months and 14 months confinement were imposed.

Friendly Grandoit, 42, was arrested on March 19, 2021, and charged with one count of illegal re-entry into the United States after deportation. Grandoit was detained following an initial appearance before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Marianne B. Bowler.

James Theodore Polzin, 47, of Mesa, was charged by criminal complaint, unsealed Wednesday, after he was ordered detained at a hearing in U.S. District Court, District of Arizona. He is charged with three counts of fraud in connection with major disaster or emergency benefits and three counts of wire fraud.

Juan Antonio Cepeda, 48, from Laredo, was sentenced March 25 in federal court to 41 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, a U.S. district judge noted Cepeda had a lengthy criminal history and a long struggle with drug addiction. Cepeda pleaded guilty Jan. 4.

Chance Wallace, 47, from Brownsville, was ordered to serve 15 years in federal prison to be followed by eight years of supervised released.

Tomas Yarrington Ruvalcaba, 64, who has been in federal custody since 2018, pleaded guilty in U.S. district court. He admitted to conspiracy to commit money laundering in a pay-to-play type of scheme.

Agents from the Honolulu Office of HSI arrested 65-year-old Victor Aguilar, of Kauai, Thursday morning. He faces two counts of sexual exploitation of a child for the purpose of producing child pornography.

With criminal groups producing, distributing and selling fake vaccines, the risks to the public are clear: these can include buying a product which not only does not protect against COVID-19, but poses a serious health hazard if ingested or injected. Such products are not tested, regulated or safety-checked. Legitimate vaccines are not for sale. They are strictly administered and distributed by national healthcare regulators.

Noe Garza, 46, from Edinburg, Texas, was sentenced March 24 in U.S. district court to 63 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Garza pleaded guilty Nov. 2, 2020.