News Releases and Statements

Rolando Montalvo was sentenced Friday to 13 months in federal prison for trafficking in counterfeit merchandise, following an investigation by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). HSI special agents seized nearly 4,000 pieces of merchandise from Montalvo's store with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of almost $1 million.

One hundred and ninety individuals were arrested and 18 victims identified and rescued by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents during a month-long, nationwide operation targeting individuals who possessed, received, transported, distributed, advertised or produced images or videos of child pornography.

A $6.3 million settlement was reached Monday to resolve claims that companies misclassified auto parts manufactured in China and imported to the United States, to evade $2.5 million in duties. The settlement follows an investigation by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). CMAI Industries, LLC, China Metal Products Co., Ltd....

A man who posed as a successful investor, David Helm Taylor, was sentenced Tuesday to serve six years and 10 months in federal prison for wire fraud in connection with implementing a fraudulent private investor trading scheme.

Gurbax Singh, an Indian national wanted on attempted murder and terrorism related criminal charges in India, was deported and turned over to Indian law enforcement authorities June 7. He was escorted by ICE's Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO). Singh was deported based on his 2009 conviction for providing support to designated terrorist groups.

Six south Texas men were arrested this week for their parts in a marijuana trafficking organization. The investigation was led by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the multi-agency Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).

Following an investigation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), officers and special agents assigned to the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force arrested six Dominican Republic nationals on drug trafficking charges earlier this week.

Jesse Tyrone Chavful was arrested this week, charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 100 kilograms or more of marijuana. He is the cousin of former NFL player Sam Hurd. who is under indictment on conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

Robert A. Diduca, 48, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 18 years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release.

Robert McChester Jr., 27, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Hayden Head June 7. He admitted that between April 1, 2011 and April 2, 2012 he communicated with a child he knew to initially be 14 years old.

As part of ICE's ongoing commitment to prioritizing the removal of criminal aliens and egregious immigration law violators, 44 convicted criminal aliens, immigration fugitives and immigration violators were arrested during a five-day operation in the greater Chicago area.

Special agents from ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), officers from Oklahoma City Police Department (OCPD), and representatives from the National Basketball Association (NBA) seized counterfeit NBA merchandise, especially related to the Oklahoma Thunder basketball team, from four local stores Wednesday.

Jose Rene Alaniz was sentenced to 21 years and eight months in federal prison following his conviction for producing child pornography. Alaniz pleaded guilty to the charge March 1, admitting he used the name ""Jonathan Rendon"" as an alias to communicate with numerous children on Internet-based social networking sites.

Lateisha M. Rollerson, a former assistant to former ICE acting intelligence chief James M. Woosley, was sentenced Thursday to ten months in prison for taking part in a fraud scheme involving more than $500,000 in government money. The case was investigated by the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility, the Office of Inspector General...

Gary Richard Lackey was sentenced in federal court June 6 to 10 years in federal prison following an investigation by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). In February 2011, law enforcement officers seized more than 400 pounds of marijuana from Lackey's residence and his business.

Jose Santos Casas-Gonzalez Sr., pleaded guilty on Thursday to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 29 kilograms (64 pounds) of cocaine and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Rogelio Mata-Ramirez pleaded guilty last month to the cocaine conspiracy. The investigation was led ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)...

Joseph Anthony Kallash was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting a minor to produce child pornography. Kallash met a 15-year-old victim on Facebook in November 2010, while representing himself as a teenager. Kallash picked up the victim and two of her friends, who had skipped school and brought them to his home.

Mitchell Duane Porter pleaded guilty Jan. 11 to producing child pornography and was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison June 5 by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis.

Cesar Avila, an illegal alien from Honduras, was convicted Wednesday of hostage taking and other related crimes after an investigation conducted by the Houston Police Department (HPD) by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Juan Pablo Flores-Segura, a Mexican national who was hospitalized for a brain hemorrhage hours after coming into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody last week, was taken off life support Monday night at a San Bernardino hospital following his parents' arrival from Mexico.

Eight of nine people were arrested Tuesday for their alleged participation in a widespread foreign student visa fraud, following an investigation by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Dhirenkumar Parikh and his co-conspirators defrauded the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) by providing foreign nationals, for a fee...

Paulino Ayala-Rodriguez, 31, was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison and four years of supervised release for distribution of methamphetamine.

Forty immigration status violators, visa overstays and foreign students were arrested for violating the conditions of their nonimmigrant visas during a 12-day operation ending Friday by special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

A Virginia Beach, Va., couple, Danil Lyapin and Natallia Liapina, was convicted Monday of conspiring to enter into marriages with American citizens to obtain permanent resident status in the United States. The case was investigated by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Norfolk.