News Releases and Statements

A Fresno-area Navy petty officer, Charles Ray Benavidez, has been indicted on federal criminal charges for sex trafficking of a minor and knowingly using a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography.

A consensual search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of 12 boxes containing more than 932 pounds of marijuana and the arrest of the van's two occupants.

The defendants face four counts of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance analogue; conspiracy to smuggle goods into the United States; conspiracy to sell and transport drug paraphernalia; and conspiracy to launder money.

A Jamaica man, Hubert Downer, was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison for murder in aid of racketeering. The victim, a drug courier, was kidnapped and dismembered in a bathtub.

David J. Stevens, the Salinas man alleged to be the "John Doe" child predator sought in a nationwide manhunt, made his initial appearance in federal court Thursday following his capture Wednesday, a little more than 24 hours after ICE's HSI issued a public appeal for leads in the case.

Yadira Mauricio Ybarra was sentenced Wednesday to 87 months in federal prison for her roles in a conspiracy to purchase machine guns and attempt to smuggle them into Mexico, and bank fraud.

Nicaraguan authorities expelled Lawrence S. Hartman, a U.S. citizen wanted in the United States on investment fraud and money laundering charges, on Wednesday. Hartman was subsequently turned over to U.S. authorities upon his arrival in Miami.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) teamed up Wednesday to thwart an attempt by human smugglers to sneak Brazilian nationals into the United States. A CBP marine unit intercepted a 20-foot single engine vessel with five persons on board Wednesday near Thatch Cay.

Richard D. Crisman, 28, was also ordered to pay a $15,000 fine, and he will be required to register as a sex offender after he completes his prison sentence.

In their plea agreements, both defendants admitted they purchased the horns for export overseas.

"Federico ""Freddy"" Garcia Jr. defrauded people of $100,000, special agents seek more victims"

The nationwide manhunt for a "John Doe" suspected child pornographer ended a little more than 24 hours after ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) issued a public appeal for information about his identity and whereabouts. John Doe was arrested Wednesday afternoon after a tip from the public was called in to the ICE tip line.

Four Mexican men, who illegally entered the United States and possessed 40mm grenades and a grenade launcher, were sentenced Wednesday to between five and 10 years in federal prison for possessing destructive devices.

Jean Claude Roy, aka Dredd the Don and Dreddy, 30, faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison for each of three counts on sex trafficking and a maximum of 10 years in prison for each of three counts of interstate transportation for prostitution.

Tyrone Reid, a citizen of the island nation of Dominica who had been residing in Houston, was sentenced Wednesday to 14 years in federal prison following his conviction to a conspiracy involving numerous co-defendants who lied to federal firearms dealers during their purchase of firearms.

Her mission: raise public awareness of law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty.

Authorities allege that the extensive operation spanned multiple communities in Massachusetts including: Bedford, Billerica, Medford, Reading, Wilmington and Woburn.

The man was ordered removed from the United States by a federal immigration judge.

Two undocumented alien siblings from Mexico were sentenced Tuesday to 10 months in federal prison following a probe spearheaded by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) that revealed the pair manufactured and sold counterfeit identity and immigration documents in the Bay Area.

A central Florida man was sentenced Tuesday to the statutory maximum of 20 years in federal prison for receipt of child pornography and 25 years of supervised release. This sentence resulted from an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Julio Cesar Ramirez, who according to court documents is a major figure within the Riverside-based Casa Blanca Vagabundos street gang, was sentenced Monday for distribution of methamphetamine, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of an unregistered firearm, all felonies.

HSI is seeking any tips about the possible identity or whereabouts of John Doe, who is believed to be located somewhere in the United States.

Mikkail Antonio Nolasco Jimenez was arrested at Bush Intercontinental Airport after it was determined he had allegedly ingested 53 pellets containing cocaine.

A jury convicted Juan Roberto Rincon-Rincon Sept. 28, 2012 following seven days of trial and less than two hours of deliberation.

A Charlotte federal jury convicted Jorge Molina-Sanchez Friday of conspiring to distribute cocaine and heroin throughout North Carolina following an investigation by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Rowan County Sheriff's Office.