News Releases and Statements

As part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) ongoing commitment to prioritizing the removal of criminal aliens and egregious immigration law violators, 39 convicted criminal aliens, immigration fugitives and immigration violators were arrested during a two-day operation in Lexington.

Christopher Vernon George was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge David C. Godbey to 40 months in federal prison and a 10 year term of supervised release, following his guilty plea in October 2012 to one count of possessing child pornography.

Shortly after obtaining citizenship, suspects divorced their U.S. citizen spouses and married each other.

In the premiere episode of Extreme Smuggling, airing tonight on the Discovery Channel, former smugglers, law enforcement and military professionals will give first-hand accounts of their experiences in the ongoing war against the drug trade.

A local man was sentenced Friday to 41 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for purchasing ammunition that was to be smuggled into Mexico. The case was investigated by U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

As part of ICE's ongoing efforts to focus agency resources on the removal of criminal aliens and egregious immigration law violators, 97 convicted criminal aliens, immigration fugitives and other immigration violators were arrested during a four-day operation in West Michigan.

Martin J. Villalobos, 41, of Lodi, N.J., was convicted following a one week trial before U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler. U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman, District of New Jersey, and Andrew McLees, special agent in charge of HSI Newark, announced the verdict.

Thirty-six individuals - including two top leaders and six upper-level managers - have been indicted as alleged participants in a major narcotics network with ties to the Netas street gang.

ICE Director John Morton attended the Friday opening of the new European Cybercrime Centre (EC3), based at Europol's headquarters in The Hague. EC3 will be the focal point in the European Unions' fight against cybercrime, protecting citizens and businesses against cybercrime threats.

Andrew Boryski, a Canadian national who operated a Los Angeles-area immigration consulting business that sought visas on behalf of aspiring foreign actors, faces multiple criminal charges for allegedly cheating his clients out of thousands of dollars in an immigration scam.

David Ettlinger of Newton, Mass., was sentenced to 45 years in federal prison Tuesday for his participation in an international criminal network, known as Dreamboard, which produced and disseminated depictions of graphic child sexual abuse via the internet.

James Hector Alcala, a Salt Lake City immigration attorney who fled following his 2009 indictment on alien smuggling and visa fraud charges, is headed to back to Utah after being captured while attempting to re-enter the U.S. on Christmas Day at the San Ysidro Port of Entry near San Diego.

Thomas Joseph Barrett, a 49-year-old federal employee from Lynnwood, Wash., made his initial appearance in federal court Wednesday on child pornography charges following his arrest at the Social Security Administration's (SSA) Office of Disability Adjudication and Review in Seattle.

British businessman Christopher Tappin, 66, of Orpington, Kent, was sentenced Jan. 9 to two years and nine months in federal prison.

America Alejandra Quintana, 26, was arraigned in Fresno Wednesday on federal methamphetamine trafficking charges and pleaded not guilty.

Christopher Frick, 38, was arrested in March and pleaded guilty last October to the charges.

A Chinese national pleaded guilty late yesterday to conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement and wire fraud. The individual operated a website used to distribute over $100 million worth of pirated software around the world, making it one of the most significant cases of copyright infringement ever uncovered - and dismantled - by ICE.

Domingo Quesada-Hernandez was convicted Tuesday of bulk cash smuggling after he pleaded guilty to evading a currency-reporting requirement in his attempt to conceal $610,535 in a vehicle while trying to smuggle the money into Mexico.

Anthony L. Ferguson was sentenced Monday to nearly 20 years in prison for producing child pornography with a 5-year-old girl for rent money.

Rene Cardenas pleaded guilty Tuesday for his role in a conspiracy to transport five kilograms or more of cocaine. Six other defendants that are part of this conspiracy are still awaiting trial.

John Bokun was sentenced Tuesday to 31 months in federal prison on conspiracy charges related to the distribution and possession of marijuana as the result of an investigation conducted by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

A rare Etruscan black-figure kalpis, which has been traced back to 510 B.C., will be returned to the Italian government following a transfer ceremony Tuesday at the Toledo Museum of Art.

Donald J. Jones III, 48, was arrested by HSI special agents and the Rhode Island State Police April 8, 2011, after he traveled by bus from Philadelphia to Providence, expecting to meet with an 8-year-old girl and her father.

A Niagara Falls, N.Y., man pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to conspiracy to possess, with the intent to distribute, 100 kilograms of marijuana. The man faces up to 40 years in prison and a $2 million fine.

Following last week's public appeal for leads in three unsolved child pornography cases, ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) announces the following updates.