News Releases and Statements

Dr. Wasser’s work has led to prosecutions of major multinational ivory traffickers that reflected his extensive collaboration with ICE HSI, the International Consortium on Combatting Wildlife Crime, INTERPOL, the Task Force on Combatting Wildlife Trafficking, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Department of State and wildlife authorities in numerous source and transit countries across Africa and Asia. The award was presented by Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington during a ceremony on April 10, 2018.

Cesar Isaac Erazo Euceda, 29, is a citizen and national of Honduras, where he is the leader of a local gang known as “Flaco’s Gang.”

James Matthew Bradley Jr., 61, from Louisville, KY appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge David A. Ezra, April 20 and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Judge Ezra also ordered that Bradley forfeit to the Government his tractor-trailer rig, plus approximately $5,600 in U.S. currency and a .38 caliber pistol recovered from inside the cab.

Tomas Yarrington Ruvalcaba, 61, from Mexico arrived in the Brownsville April 20 to face the charges, and is expected to make his initial appearance Monday, April 23 at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Ronald Morgan.

Ramesh Venkata Pothuru, 44, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison to the aforementioned violations. Mr. Pothuru collected over $450,000 in illegal filing fees and related expenses from more than 100 fraudulent visas and employer-sponsored green cards for nonimmigrant workers from his native India.

Hee Sun Shim (also known as Leonard Shim and Leo Shim), 54, of Hancock Park, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge George H. Wu. Shim, who was ordered to begin serving his sentence in 60 days, and was further ordered to forfeit to the government $431,508 seized from bank accounts and $34,860 in cash seized during the execution of a federal search warrant at his former residence in Beverly Hills in March 2015.

Jessica Godoy Ramos, 37, was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Dolly M. Gee. After she completes the 15-month prison term, Ramos will spend six months in home detention.

Robert Krietzman was sentenced today to five years in prison and ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution for possession of child pornography following an investigation by HSI. 

Benjamin Aguilar-Ramirez, 35, who resided in Waterloo, Iowa, pleaded guilty to the charges Jan. 11. 

Luis Calderon, 32, aka "Lagrima," of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Dickson in Newark federal court to an indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine.

“During those days, as now, for HSI Boston the phrase “Boston Strong” was and is more than a slogan, it’s a way of life,” observed Michael Shea, acting special agent in charge of HSI Boston. 

Jarratt A. Turner, 36, of Nashville, previously pleaded guilty to all counts of the indictment issued in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee March 20, 2017.

James Ian McGlothlin, 41, of Portland, was sentenced Monday to 28 years in federal prison followed by a life term of supervised release for producing child pornography involving two very young children.

Consistent with the agency’s protocols, the appropriate state health and local law enforcement agencies have been notified about the death, as have the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General and ICE’s Office of Professional Responsibility. Additionally, ICE is coordinating Mirimanian’s death notification to the Armenian Embassy, as well as to his next of kin.

Patrick Jake Nicholas Luera, 31, from Webster, Texas, pleaded guilty to the criminal charges on June 27, 2017. After he completes his prison sentence, Luera must also serve 15 years of supervised release, during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He must also register as a sex offender.

Late last week, authorities arrested Alexander Ruof-Brown, 26, of Buffalo. He was charged with felony counts of criminal possession of a narcotic with intent to sell, criminal possession of a narcotic, and criminal possession of marijuana. The defendant is also charged with 10 misdemeanors including unlawful fleeing a police officer, three counts of endangering the welfare of a child, resisting arrest, reckless endangerment, obstruction of governmental administration, reckless driving, aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle, and criminal use of drug paraphernalia.

The IFPCU and C3 provided dark web and cryptocurrency training to over 400 state and local law enforcement personnel located in Michigan and Ohio over the course of one week.

During this visit, HSI International Operations Division Chief David Magdycz presented RTP General Tamasak Wicharaya a recognition award for his offices partnership with HSI in furtherance of crimes against children investigations as well as a recognition award to RTP Lt. General Suttipong Vongpint for his offices partnership in furtherance of HSI investigations in the region.

Leonardo Cristea, 22, had previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to importing controlled substances into the United States. 

Arnoldo Rueda-Medina, aka “La Minsa,” 48, pleaded guilty in September 2017 to one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a Schedule II controlled substance and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.