News Releases and Statements

Montoya-Merino, who had been previously returned to Mexico in 2013, illegally reentered the country and was subsequently arrested Nov. 19, 2013, with the assistance of the Bradley Beach Police Department and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.

ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending Aug. 29, 2014

Robert Dale Schrader, 34, of Littlerock, California, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Feess, who also ordered that Schrader remain under supervision for the rest of his life following his release from prison.

If convicted, Byron Lopez, aka Viruz, 23, will face mandatory life imprisonment. Lopez was arrested Thursday and presented for arraignment at the United States Courthouse in Brooklyn.

Justin Gage Jangraw, 34, of Rockford, Mich., entered the guilty plea in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Jonathan Tyler Prive, 26, of West Melbourne, faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life in federal prison, as well as a potential life term of supervised release. He was indicted Feb. 19; a sentencing date has not yet been set.

Charles William Carlton, 29, of Katy, Texas, was sentenced to 246 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances and controlled substance analogues resulting in serious bodily injury or death, introduction and delivery of a misbranded drug and money laundering.

Greek national Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos is believed to have run the human smuggling ring.

John C. Vastis, aka "Pete," 51, of Lakemoor, Illinois, which straddles Lake and McHenry counties, was arrested at his home Aug. 28 by agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) at the same time they executed a federal search warrant.

The arrests of James Lee Hickerson, 35, his father Neil Lee Hickerson, 56, both of Greshem, and his girlfriend Carolyn M. Knudsen, 28, of Camas, Washington, stem from an Interagency Child Exploitation Prevention Team (INTERCEPT) investigation.

"Long Island residents deserve safe communities, free of dangerous drugs and the violence that comes with them, and HSI will continue to partner with local law enforcement to achieve these goals."

Vincenzo Coluccio, 65, was transported from Sacramento to Italy on board commercial aircraft escorted by ERO officers. Upon arriving in Rome, Coluccio was transferred to the custody of Italian authorities. Coluccio is charged in a warrant issued by judicial officials in Milan with conspiring with the Mafia and drug smuggling. The allegations carry a prison term of 12 years.

Stuart Bryan King, 54, of Centennial, Colorado, was sentenced Aug. 27 to 15 months in federal prison for mail fraud and filing a false tax return. King is the owner of Little Lake Driving Academy (LLDA).

Richard John Medina, aka "El Guero," 40, of Laredo, appeared before U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana, who accepted his guilty plea and handed Medina a 93-month prison sentence to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.

John W. Rice, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 18 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Rice was sentenced for producing and selling thousands of pirated CDs and DVDs.

Reynaldo Estrada, 50, of Brookhaven, was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release, and pay $409,779 restitution, and a $300 special assessment. He pleaded guilty April 24 to one count each of conspiracy to commit identity theft, aggravated identity theft, and aiding and abetting the use of a false Social Security number.

Joe Adam Vega, 25, of Greenville, North Carolina, entered a guilty plea for impeding agents at the checkpoint. According to court records and statements made during Wednesday’s court proceeding, Vega arrived at the checkpoint July 29. Agents directed Vega to move away from the primary inspection lane and drive to the secondary inspection area after a canine alerted to the presence of drugs or hidden persons in the vehicle's trunk. He refused to comply.

Kevin Francis Kelley, 45, of Halethorpe, was also ordered to serve 20 years of supervised release following his prison sentence and register as a sex offender. He was also ordered to pay restitution of $3,000.

Michael P. Adams, the lead case agent in Operation Open Market, received the award Tuesday from the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators. The award acknowledges Special Agent Adams’ cyber investigative skills, which significantly aided in the apprehension, arrest and prosecution of the suspects involved in the far-reaching scheme.

According to the investigation, Sean Cantelmo, age 28, allegedly conspired with others to coerce a minor female to engage in prostitution and illegal sexual activity during February through May 2014.

Todd Tackwell, 39, formerly of Hastings, Nebraska, was sentenced to 156 months in prison for one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography. This sentence will run concurrently with his California prison sentence, and will be followed by a 35- to 45-year prison sentence in Nebraska for a similar crime.

Noe Aranda-Soto, aka Diablo or Chulo or Wache, 34, was indicted in Victoria last week. Aranda-Soto was a fugitive until his arrest by law enforcement in 2012. The indictment alleges brandishing firearms and using a firearm in relation to hostage taking resulting in death, which is murder. The indictment further alleges hostage taking, harboring undocumented aliens, transporting undocumented aliens, related conspiracy charges, and illegal re-entry into the United States after being previously deported.

ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending Aug. 22, 2014

HSI special agents arrested William Rodriguez-Lebron, 35, in Guaynabo after receiving information from the Puerto Rico Police Department's (PRPD) Sexual Crimes Division regarding the alleged transportation by Rodriguez-Lebron of a 15-year-old girl, identified as Jane Doe, with the intent to engage in criminal sexual conduct.

Syaed Talha Ahsan, 34, was escorted to London by ERO officers and turned over to British authorities