News Releases and Statements
News Releases and Statements
David Ray Camez, 22, also known as "Bad Man" and "doctorsex," was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon. Camez was convicted on Dec. 6, 2013, of one count of participating in a racketeer influenced corrupt organization and one count of conspiracy to participate in a racketeer influenced corrupt organization. In addition to his prison term, he was also sentenced to serve three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $20 million in restitution.
Gary Joe Smith, 61, of Morgan, Texas, was sentenced by U.S District Judge Walter S. Smith Jr. to serve 72 months imprisonment for possessing and distributing child pornography. Judge Smith also ordered him to serve five years of supervised release after he completes his sentence. Smith pleaded guilty to the charges March 6.
Eliyahu Cohen, aka Eli Cohen, 63, of Bnei Brak, Israel, was arrested May 12 on federal felony charges of conspiracy to export U.S. defense articles, unlawful export of U.S. defense articles and conspiracy to commit money laundering. This matter stems from a long-term investigation into a network of military parts purchasers and brokers involved in an alleged conspiracy to export controlled military parts from the United States in violation of U.S. federal criminal law. If convicted of all of the counts of the superseding indictment in which he is charged, Cohen faces a maximum term of 130 years in prison and a fine of up to $7.5 million.
Manuel Fernandez, 33, of Wayne, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares in Newark federal court to one count of distribution of child pornography. Fernandez has been in custody since his arrest in January 2012.
A federal grand jury in Harrisburg Wednesday indicted a U.S. Army colonel for possession and distribution of child pornography over the Internet. Colonel Robert J. Rice, 56, of Carlisle, is stationed at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle.
Leo Charles Koppala, 48, was escorted by ICE officers on a commercial flight and turned over to Indian authorities May 14 in New Delhi, India.
The two-day bench trial of Michael T. Laursen, 47, came as a result of a multiagency investigation, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Laursen now faces up to 30 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years.
The following individuals who were unlawfully in the United States have been charged: Santiago Ortiz-Ortiz, 49, a native and citizen of Mexico, was charged in a one-count indictment alleging that after he was previously arrested and deported, he knowingly and unlawfully reentered the United States. Claudio Villa-Vera, 26, a native and citizen of Ecuador, was charged in a one-count indictment alleging that after he was arrested and deported, he knowingly and unlawfully reentered the United States. Jose Gonzalez-Sanchez, 25, a native and citizen of Mexico, was charged in a one-count indictment alleging that after he was previously arrested and deported, he knowingly and unlawfully reentered the United States.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and El Salvador's Civilian National Police (PNC) signed a memorandum of cooperation (MOC) Wednesday to enhance their ability to share immigration and criminal history record information concerning Salvadoran nationals who are being repatriated from the United States.
The signing ceremony took place at PNC headquarters in El Salvador. Timothy S. Robbins, the deputy executive associate director for ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations, signed on behalf of ICE, and Director General Rigoberto Pleités Sandoval signed on behalf of El Salvador's PNC.
Three ICE employees were among ten individuals who received this prestigious award. The DHS Award for Valor is the highest departmental recognition for extraordinary acts of valor by an employee, occurring while on or off duty, and it's only given in extraordinary circumstances. It's presented to select individuals who performed courageously in a dangerous or life-threatening situation to protect another's life or to save significant assets or infrastructure from harm.
Victor Anthony Nottoli, 51, of Hillsborough, Calif., pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of causing at least 24 tons of misbranded SSC to be introduced into interstate commerce. Additionally, four other defendants arrested last week for manufacturing and distributing SSC were indicted Thursday.
Switzerland is the latest country to join the Virtual Global Taskforce (VGT), an international alliance of law enforcement and private sector agencies dedicated to combating online child sexual exploitation and other forms of transnational child sexual exploitation. An official signing-in ceremony was held in Brussels Tuesday, which was attended by both the U.S. and Swiss ambassadors to the European Union.
An Altavista man, who previously pleaded guilty to charges related to trafficking in counterfeit sports apparel, was sentenced Tuesday to five months in prison, followed by five months of home confinement. The sentence resulted from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington.
As part of his sentence, George E. Hall, 46, must also pay approximately $64,000 in restitution.
Tomas Steven Quiñones, 48, admitted to producing a video in December 2010 that contained child pornography. Specifically, Quiñones admitted to knowingly persuading and enticing two minors to take part in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a video depiction of such conduct. In the video he is seen and heard instructing the children on how to have sex.
The United States signed a Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement (CMAA) Tuesday with Uruguay marking a significant milestone in collaboration between the two countries. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske signed the agreement on behalf of CBP and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Uruguay's Minister of Foreign Affairs Luis Almagro signed the agreement on behalf of Uruguay. The bilateral agreement is a valuable tool for the United States and Uruguay's respective customs administrations to prevent, repress and investigate customs offenses.
Israel Berrios-Berrios, a 58-year-old suspended Catholic priest, was arrested Tuesday for allegedly transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and sexual trafficking of minors.
Jucontee Thomas Woewiyu, aka Jucontee Thomas Smith, 68, of Collingdale, was charged with seven counts of perjury, two counts of fraudulently attempting to obtain citizenship, four counts of fraud in immigration documents and three counts of false statements in relation to naturalization. If convicted, he faces a maximum possible sentence of 110 years in prison, a $4,000,000 fine, not more than three years supervised release and a $1,600 special assessment.
Sung Hoon Ha, 30, formerly of Tacoma, pleaded guilty in December 2013 to encouraging and inducing an alien to unlawfully enter the United States, following an investigation by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with the assistance of U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Office of Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations. Ha was sentenced to 137 days' time served and two years' supervised release. He was turned over to ERO, placed into removal proceedings and held at the Northwest Detention Center until his deportation.
ICE employees, leadership, family members of ICE fallen officers and distinguished guests, including DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson and DHS Deputy Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, gathered at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial on May 12 and gave a moving tribute to law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty.
Zackary Adam Knight was charged in a criminal complaint filed May 9 in U.S. District Court in Harrisburg.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) recognized the efforts of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) during its annual congressional breakfast May 7 in Washington, D.C.
The HSI members were among other law enforcement professionals honored by NCMEC for performing above and beyond the call of duty in safely recovering a missing child or successfully resolving a child sexual exploitation case. HSI personnel were recognized in two separate investigations.
Shane Padilla, 30, of Jacksonville, Arkansas, a U.S. Air Force C-130 pilot stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base, was initially arrested on the charges April 4. He faces between five years and 20 years in federal prison as well as a $250,000 fine if convicted of the charges.
Frederick Simonelli, 69, is charged in a March 26 federal grand jury indictment unsealed Monday. According to court documents, an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) found Simonelli allegedly received child pornography through the Internet on at least two occasions in January 2012.
A 34-year-old Baltimore man was sentenced Monday to 10 years in federal prison on conspiracy charges related to distribution and possession of methamphetamine.
Jordan Barraco also received five years of supervised release as part of his sentence.
Nathan Brochstein, 40, of Wayside, N.J., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Mary L. Cooper in Trenton federal court to one count of distribution of child pornography.
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