News Releases and Statements

Operation Blackwrist, which was named after a bracelet worn by one of the victims, was launched by INTERPOL in 2017 following the discovery of material depicting the abuse of 11 boys, all under 13 years old. The material, first identified on the Darkweb, originated from a subscription-based website with nearly 63,000 users worldwide.

During the eight-week course, HSI Tampa agents introduced participants to national security, financial, narcotics, cyber, global trade, human smuggling/trafficking, and child exploitation investigations.

Ara Dolarian, 58, was arrested on Wednesday, May 15, in Fresno on a criminal complaint charging him with illegally brokering the sale of military-grade arms and munitions, money laundering, and conspiracy, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

DHS has finalized changes to fees charged by SEVP to international students, exchange visitors and SEVP-certified schools. The new fees will take effect June 24, 2019.

Osvaldo Gonzalez, 26, from Mission, Texas, was sentenced May 21 by U.S. District Judge Randy Crane to 262 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release.  Gonzalez pleaded guilty to the human smuggling charges Nov. 2, 2018.

Josue Rafael Fuentes-Ponce and Joel Ernesto Escobar, both Salvadoran nationals, were previously arrested on May 11, 2018 when they were arrested by Prince George’s County Police Department (PGCPD) for attempted first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, participation in gang activity, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted robbery, and other related charges.

A federal jury found Anthony Lazzarino, 68, former Chief of Podiatry for the Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Northern California Health Care System, and Peter Wong, 61, founder and CEO of Sunrise Shoes and Pedorthic Service Corporation, guilty, Friday, May 17, of health care fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

The individuals were arrested for violating U.S. immigration laws in accordance with the Immigration and Nationality Act. Those targeted for arrest had been issued final orders of removal within the past five years and had criminal histories or pending criminal charges.

Some of the individuals arrested during this operation will face federal criminal prosecution for illegal re-entry after removal. The arrestees who are not being federally prosecuted will be processed administratively for removal from the United States.

According to preliminary arrest statistics, the field office made 33 at-large arrests May 13-16 across its area of operations. Of the 33 arrests, 22 have prior criminal convictions or pending criminal charges; 23 were either previously deported or have outstanding removal orders issued by the courts. Nine arrests took place in metro New Orleans, 12 in Alabama, eight in Arkansas and four in Tennessee. 

Samuel C. Thompson, 34, of Grass Valley, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. to 10 years and four months in prison for receipt of child pornography and attempting to use the internet to entice a child to engage in sexual activity, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

Ezra Dave Maling, a fugitive Philippine national, was deported Tuesday due to violations of Philippine law pertaining to murder. He is accused of strangling to death his female ‘live in’ partner with a leather belt in March of 2003.

Nickolas William Povsha, 24, pleaded guilty earlier to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Deputy Special Agent in Charge Jerry Templet repatriated 10 Greek coins to the Government of Greece, Tuesday, during a reception at the San Francisco Greek Consulate.

Luis Contreras, 39, from Chicago, was indicted on the following charges: one count of murder in aid of racketeering; one count of attempted murder in aid of racketeering; two counts of illegally possessing multiple firearms and ammunition.

Amilcar Guiza-Reyes, a 51-year old citizen and national of Honduras, who was previously deported in 2013, made an initial appearance in federal court in the Southern District of Texas May 10, charged with 8 USC 1324 alien smuggling for allegedly smuggling a 6-month-old infant across the U.S.-Mexico border.

Daniel Cabanillas, 49, was sentenced in federal court to 2 years’ probation and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.

In one of the new cases, Ronald Daniel Scott, a.k.a., “Danny Scott,” 49, of Stevenson Ranch, agreed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of introducing misbranded drugs into interstate commerce. Scott is the chief executive officer of Premiere Sales Group, Inc., a Santa Clarita-based company that also agreed to plead guilty to the same charge.

According to the indictment, Stille Giovanni Guiterrez Vivanco, 34, is alleged to have led this international drug trafficking organization. “Cell heads” included Jose Garcia, 36, of Tulsa, and Edson Garcia-Velasquez, 25, of Tulsa. Norman Fabian Huerta Avalos, 36, served in various capacities, including coordinating assignments for other organization members and serving as dispatch.

Fifty people are now in law enforcement custody following last week’s return of a 206-count indictment criminally charging 96 people for their alleged roles in a large-scale marriage fraud scheme. 

Yimmi Jose Pereira-Ramos, 24, was flown to El Salvador May 9 on a charter flight coordinated by ICE Air Operations (IAO). Upon arrival, Campos-Rivera was turned over to officials from El Salvador’s Civilian National Police (PNC).

Elda Cuadra-Torres, 29, was removed from the United States via an ICE Air Operations Charter flight and transferred into the custody of Salvadoran law enforcement authorities.