News Releases and Statements

Juan Peralez, 57, from La Joya, Texas, was taken into custody June 23 after a federal criminal complaint was filed.  Peralez is scheduled to make his initial appearance June 24 before U.S Magistrate Judge Peter Ormsby

The 11 defendants were taken into custody during enforcement actions Wednesday and Thursday throughout the Imperial Valley. In addition to the arrests, federal investigators also seized seven firearms during the two-day operation, which involved warranted searches at four locations, including sites in Brawley and Calipatria. Many of the search locations were private homes where the drugs and firearms were stored and sold.

“Project Red II” targeted individuals with Interpol red notices and others wanted for serious crimes within Interpol member countries. A red notice serves as an international wanted notice and provides information on the identification of fugitives charged with or convicted of serious crimes who have fled prosecution or the serving of their sentence.

According to court documents, while Harminder Phagura, 36, was employed as a Yuba City police officer he took sensitive information he gained from his official position and exchanged it for money. Co‑defendant Gursharan Phagura transmitted this sensitive law enforcement information to a government source, who was posing as a cocaine trafficker.

Marcos Daniel Chairez, 26, of Lubbock, Texas, has been in custody since his arrest on other charges in October 2015. Chairez pleaded guilty in March 2016 to one count of transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

In addition to the prison term, Abdul Mannan, 33, was also ordered to pay more than $76,000 in restitution. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Rodriguez prosecuted the case.

Jovan Rendon-Reyes, aka Jovani, 32; Guillermina Rendon-Reyes, 44; Jose Rendon-Garcia, aka Gusano, 32; Felix Rojas, 45; and Severiano Martinez-Rojas, 50, were arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge James Orenstein of the Eastern District of New York on a 27-count indictment following their extradition from Mexico.  The indictment, which was unsealed on Nov. 19, 2015, charges eight defendants with racketeering and racketeering conspiracy involving predicate acts of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; sex trafficking of minors; interstate prostitution; alien smuggling; money laundering and related offenses.  Three co-defendants charged in the same indictment, Saul Rendon-Reyes, aka Satanico, 37; Francisco Rendon-Reyes, aka Pancho, 27; and Odilon Martinez-Rojas, aka Chino and Saul, 44, were arraigned in the Eastern District of New York on Nov. 19, 2015.

In Montréal, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) expected that the influx of visitors throughout the week leading up the race could increase the demand for sexual services.  RCMP officers and the Montréal Police conducted a sexual exploitation awareness campaign in partnership with several law enforcement agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Lesley James McNeal, 53, of San Francisco, appeared before U.S. District Judge William Alsup. McNeal pleaded guilty in March to one count of producing child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography.

Jose Santiago-Cruz, 38, of Oaxaca, Mexico, was sentenced June 23 by U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb to 30 months in federal prison for illegally re-entering the United States after having been deported, which is a felony. 

Andrew Clarke, 43 of Irvington, New Jersey, and Llewellyn Clarke, 42 of North Plainfield, New Jersey, were sentenced to 300 and 195 months in prison, respectively.

Blas Alberto Lopez-Angulo, 46, of Tijuana, was transferred by San Diego-based officers on ERO’s Special Response Team to the custody of representatives from Mexico’s Procuraduria General de la Republica (PGR) and Mexican immigration officials at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.

Rogelio Alfaro Carrillo, 27, was sentenced June 24 by U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos to 72 months in federal prison. He was further ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release after he completes his prison term.

“Within the law-enforcement community, it is important that we come together regularly to share experiences and learn from each other; whether it’s talking about the investigative techniques that are working well, or simply shedding new light on emerging threats,” said Deputy Director Ragsdale. “Training sessions such as this also give us an opportunity to share key information and further enhance best practices.”

Tuesday’s enforcement actions were carried out by more than 50 special agents and investigators from ICE HSI; the California Department of Public Health’s Food and Drug Branch; the California Franchise Tax Board; and the California Department of Justice eCrime Unit.

The training focused on strategies and investigative techniques to assist with the identification and seizure of illicit funds generated by money laundering organizations engaged in transnational criminal schemes. HSI special agents shared best practices for investigating money laundering schemes, the movement of bulk and virtual currencies and intellectual property rights violations tied to terrorist financing.

Marek P. Gacierz, 34, of Chicago, was convicted June 22 in Kane County by Circuit Judge Donald M. Tegeler Jr., of involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, traveling to meet a minor, and grooming.

Adrian Jaimes, 21, from Nekoosa, Wisconsin, is charged with using and persuading a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography.  

Operation In Our Sites is the major effort ICE investigators, industry and international law enforcement conduct in order to eliminate copyright infringing websites selling counterfeit goods that may threaten the health and safety of consumers. 

Timoteo Reyes-Perez, 35, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of a minor. He was originally charged in 2008 but was a fugitive until last year when he was extradited to the United States from Mexico.

Nader Elhuzayel and Muhanad Badawi, both 25, were convicted Tuesday in U.S. District Court following a two-week trial. Elhuzayel was also found guilty of attempting to provide material support, and Badawi was convicted of aiding and abetting the attempt to provide support to ISIL.

Special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) arrested David Krowner, 42, from Estancia, New Mexico, June 17 after a narcotics canine allegedly detected the odor of illegal drugs in his vehicle.

Marcus B. Fifer, 44, of Springfield, was sentenced June 20 by U.S. District Judge Sue E. Myerscough, Central District of Illinois, to 420 months in federal prison, to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release upon his release from prison.

Tatiana F. Tascon, 40, of Coconut Grove, pleaded guilty to the charges April 13, as part of her sentence she agreed to forfeit $78,949.45 as well as two properties in Miami.

Donald Alvin Tolbert, 47, entered a not guilty plea to the superseding indictment during his arraignment June 20 hearing. He remains in federal custody pending trial, which is set for Sept. 19.