News Releases and Statements

According to the ICE Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) designation by the National Security Law Section, Bakhtiyo Bazarovich Jumaev, 55, poses a threat to national security due to terrorism activities.

As part of Operation Poyais, the Brazilian Federal Police executed 20 search and seizure warrants in the states of Parana, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for multiple violations of Brazilian criminal statutes.

Ricardo Reyes-Garcia, 26, from Reynosa, Mexico, was indicted on two counts for both receipt and possession of child pornography.

Othell Corneilous Brown, 46, from Montalba, Texas, was sentenced Oct. 5 to 41 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional testimony that detailed Brown’s prior training as a truck driver and whether it assisted him in the smuggling attempt. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Brown was extremely lucky that nobody was injured or killed during the smuggling attempt as it would have resulted in a much higher sentence.  Brown pleaded guilty June 28.

Jose Ricardo Zamora-Ibarra, 35, illegally residing in Palmview was sentenced Oct. 4 to 180 months in prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. Zamora-Ibarra was further ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution to known victims and must register as a sex offender.

HSI reported the arrest of Marlon Pitts, aka “Cali”, a resident of Capital Heights, Maryland, on Aug. 11, as well as the arrests of Maurice Monroe, aka “Moeazy”, a resident of Washington, D.C., and Alexander Stevens III, aka “Cas”, a resident of Accokeek, Maryland, on Sept. 7.

A painting stolen from the University of Arizona Museum of Art 37 years ago has been brought back home due in large part by the careful and meticulous planning by special agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in coordination with university police.

Antonio Montes, a 55-year-old resident of Corpus Christi, pleaded guilty Wednesday in the Southern District of Texas to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamines.

According to evidence presented at trial, Nameer Mohammad Atta, of San Diego, sold counterfeit “M30” pills in April and May 2020 to the Marine, identified in court records as C.M.R., knowing that these pills are counterfeit oxycodone pills that contain illicit fentanyl.

Jesus Ochoa, 27, from Laredo, was sentenced Sept. 28 by a federal judge to serve 186 months in federal prison while Luis Armando Garcia, 29, illegally residing in Laredo, was sentenced to 192 months in prison.

Dominguez Martinez, the first law enforcement partner outside the U.S. to receive the award, was recognized for leading Interpol Mexico’s contributions to ERO Mexico City’s Security Alliance for Fugitive Enforcement (SAFE) — a robust information sharing relationship with the Government of Mexico that supports ERO’s ability to identify, arrest, and remove fugitives with active criminal arrest warrants in Mexico from the United States.

On January 25, HSI and AJPD conducted a search warrant at the residence of Dale Lenz, 30, of Phoenix, who was subsequently arrested after a forensic analysis of his device revealed hundreds of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) files.

William T. Bouza, 45, of Watchung, New Jersey, was sentenced via videoconference before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton who sentenced Bouza to 168 months imprisonment, five years supervised release and a $25,000 fine. Bouza previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and possession with intent to distribute heroin on April 27, 2022.

According to court documents, Shailene Ashanty Gutierrez, 19, of El Paso, entered the U.S. from the Republic of Mexico at the Paso Del Norte port of entry. Gutierrez was a passenger in a vehicle where a small quantity of marijuana and empty rifle magazines were located.

The Surprise Police Department Criminal Investigations Division also partnered with the Scottsdale, Glendale, Goodyear and the Peoria Police Department, in addition to the United States Marshals Service and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for operation “Back to Skool.”

As early as July and August 2020, Darris Cotton submitted at least 16 fraudulent applications for unemployment using other people’s names, dates of birth, and social security numbers.

Jonathan Zarazua, 28, of Austin, was sentenced Sept. 20 by a federal judge to serve 50 months in federal prison to immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Zarazua was responsible for trafficking numerous loads of illegal narcotics. Zarazua pleaded guilty Jan. 13.

Ghacham Inc. and Mohamed Ghacham admitted that, between July 2011 and February 2021, they undervalued imported garments by more than $32 million and failed to pay customs duties approximately $6,390,792.

Homeland Security Investigations agents in Grand Junction, Colorado were contacted by Deputy Marshals from USMS at five p.m. Sept. 20. They were assisting a Summit County Sheriff’s Office in a parental kidnapping case and needed assistance. There was information the child was being taken to the border of Mexico in violation of a court order.

Emmanuel Oppongagyare, 22, was sentenced Sept. 20 by a federal judge to serve 21 months in federal prison while Ralph Gregory-Saint-Joie, 19, was sentenced to 13 months in prison. Both must also serve three years of supervised release following their sentences.

According to court documents, Salamon Ruiz-Lopez, 48, had previously been deported five times between 2010 and 2011.

Cedric Robert Cox, 53, was sentenced in the Southern District of Texas to seven years for each of the receiving and possessing convictions, but his terms will run concurrently for a total of seven years in prison. Cox was further ordered to pay $9,000 in restitution to known victims and will serve 10 years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Cox will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

Kelley Stanley, 48, of Sierra Vista, was arrested by HSI special agents after attempting to pick up a 13-year-old girl to engage in sexual conduct. According to law enforcement, Stanley planned to pick up the girl from a parking lot near the intersection of Wilcox and Coronado Drive.

ICE works with correctional facilities to identify probable, removable noncitizens in the interest of public safety and lodges immigration detainers on individuals so ICE officers can take custody of that person in a safe and secure setting without further endangering the public.

 ERO apprehended Angel Adrian Bermejo, 26, in Chester, Virginia, after local authorities refused to honor an ICE detainer and released Bermejo from jail.