News Releases and Statements

Obaidullah Syed, 66, of Northbrook, Ill., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to export goods from the U.S. without a license from the Department of Commerce and to submit false export information. The conviction is punishable by a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.

As the result of an investigation by special agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles, Albert Pinedo, 78, of Alhambra, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge George H. Wu.

Maurice Fitzgerald Alexander, 31, arrested in Tucson, and Erica Lucia Navarro, 31, arrested in El Paso, Texas, were simultaneously arrested Oct. 21. Both defendants were initialed in federal court where they both face sex trafficking charges. Neither defendant has been awarded bond.

As the result of a probe by HSI Los Angeles, Jerome Terry Jr., 45, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II, who described Terry as “a danger to unsuspecting members of the public” and further remarked that a “lengthy term of incarceration is needed to protect the public.”

Steven Barros Pinto, 40, of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Peter Welte, to 33 years imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and controlled substances analogues, conspiracy to import controlled substances and controlled substances analogues into the United States, money laundering conspiracy, continuing criminal enterprise (CCE), and obstruction of justice.

Charles William Dexter III, 40, of Minneapolis, turned himself in to local authorities in Atlanta. He was previously charged by federal indictment with sex trafficking a minor.

Jorge Luis Monsivais, 23, of Eagle Pass, Texas, was sentenced Oct. 21 by a U.S. federal judge to 360 months. Monsivais pleaded guilty May 11 to conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death; conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in serious bodily injury; conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens; illegal alien transportation resulting in death; and illegal alien transportation resulting in serious bodily injury.

In recognition of the CCHT and to continue to advance its critical work, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas directed DHS components to incorporate a victim-centered approach into all policies, programs, and activities governing DHS interactions with victims of crime.  

Beginning Oct. 13, authorities placed several decoy advertisements on websites known to be linked to prostitution and commercial sex cases. The focus of the operation was to identify individuals seeking to engage in commercial sex acts with minors.

Macario Ulises Barragan-Cisneros, 45, of Mexico, is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 10, 2022, before U.S. District Judge Scott H. Rash. A conviction for conspiracy to transport and harbor undocumented people for profit carries a maximum penalty of 10 years, a maximum fine of $250,000, or both.

ICE HSI Tampa Special Agent Carlos Carrasquillo was recently honored for his work in federal law enforcement at the 2021 Viva Tampa Bay Hispanic Heritage Awards Ceremony.

William David Brice, 42, was arrested on October 3, and charged with ten felony counts, including one count of causing or allowing child sexually abusive material; three counts of attempting to produce child sexually abusive material; one count of distributing child sexually abusive material; three counts of possessing child sexually abusive material; and finally, one count of accosting a child for immoral purposes.

Abid Ali Khan allegedly operates a Pakistani-based smuggling network to facilitate the travel of undocumented individuals into the United States from the Middle East and southwest Asia in exchange for payment.

Nathan David Hankins, 28, was indicted Dec. 17, 2019. Due to delays caused by the pandemic he finally appeared in federal court Oct. 1 to respond to the charge and  plead not guilty.

Maria Tello, 39, was also ordered to  serve five years supervised release after completing her sentence. Tello pleaded guilty March 29, 2018.

Anastacio Alvarez-Lion, 41, of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Rosemary Marquez to five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

Joel Alex Sandate, 32, of Los Fresnos, Texas, was sentenced Oct. 7 in federal court to 120 months in federal prison. His sentence is to be followed immediately followed by 20 years of supervised release.

Robert Henderson, Jr., 59, of Tucson, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 10 years in prison. Henderson pleaded guilty March 5, 2020, to distribution of child pornography.

Oswald Rukemuye, 58, was removed via ICE Air Operations and turned over to law enforcement authorities in Rwanda to face justice for his crimes.

Jerod Brown, 35, was arrested and booked into the Cochise County Jail for discharging a weapon at an occupied residence, disorderly conduct involving weapons, endangerment, possession of narcotics for sale, possession of narcotics, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jorge Estrada Torres, 34, from Quemado, Texas, also was ordered to serve three years supervised release after completing his sentence.

Roberto Benavides, 47, was arrested at his residence in the 14000 block of Warren Belin Drive in Horizon City, Texas. He was a target of an HSI El Paso investigation for more than a year.

Noncitizens can now schedule their initial check-in with ICE in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole and French, using the recently announced ICE Appointment Scheduler. The ICE Appointment Scheduler is a web-based, multilingual, and smartphone compatible appointment scheduler for noncitizens. The tool allows noncitizens to schedule their required check-in appointments at ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) offices as they await immigration proceedings.

Following a probe by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Hawaii County Police Department, Samuel K. Kapoi, 35, pleaded guilty on May 25 to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

A Venezuelan man in the custody of ICE passed away Oct. 1 at Merit Health River Oaks, Flowood, Mississippi. The preliminary cause of death was from complications with acute respiratory failure, AIDS, pneumonia, acute kidney failure, anemia, and COVID-19.