News Releases and Statements

In addition to these arrests, HSI identified 15 potential human trafficking victims from brothels across the southeastern United States with assistance from the DHS JTF-I, ICE ERO, CBP, FEMA and multiple state/local law enforcement agencies.

Corderro Cody, 27 pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, conspiracy to transport individuals both intrastate and interstate for the purpose of prostitution, one count of sex trafficking of a minor and 12 counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion.

Charles Goswitz, 59, of Torrance, appeared Tuesday morning before U.S. District Judge Beverly Reid O’Connell. The case marks the first federal prosecution in the Los Angeles area of a so-called “John” in a teen sex-trafficking investigation and only the second such federal prosecution nationwide.

Alberto Martinez-Vasquez, 26, was convicted Oct. 26 in federal court before U.S. District Judge Vanessa Gilmore. This case was initiated Sept. 10 when law enforcement responded to a loud noise complaint at a residence on the 9800 block of Gillman Street in Houston.

Xzavion Dayshaun Ragsdale, aka “Yung Billy,” 19, formerly of Amarillo, Texas, and most recently Dallas, made his initial appearance in federal court Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Clinton E. Averitte who ordered Ragsdale to remain in federal custody, pending a detention hearing set for Monday.

Paulino Ramirez-Granados, who had been on ICE’s most wanted list since 2010, was arrested March 31 in Tenancingo, Mexico, following a joint investigation between ICE’s HSI Mexico City, HSI New York and the Mexican Federal Police.

Trenton McLemore, 29, a documented Webb Chapel Crip gang member, has been in custody since his arrest by officers with the Irving Police Department in September 2013. He pleaded guilty in July 2015 to one count of sex trafficking children.

Angela Santillanes, 30, remains in federal custody pending an arraignment and a detention hearing set for Saturday.

Marycela Rivas, 36 of Avondale, appeared in federal court Thursday. Rivas’ sister and primary accomplice, Leticia Montano aka Leticia Rivas, 42, of Phoenix, was sentenced Sept. 30 to 63 months in prison followed by three years’ supervised release.

The Salvadoran Transnational Criminal Investigations Unit (TCIU) executed the search and arrest warrant at Acosta-Cortez’s home without incident. TCIU officers seized approximately $3,000 in U.S. currency, one vehicle and eight cell phones.

The federal indictment charges Drew Christopher Potter, 33, of Watuga, Texas, with one count of conspiring to commit alien smuggling for financial gain and three substantive counts of transporting undocumented aliens.

According to the information in the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, Joseph Neil Bronson, 35, responded to an advertisement on an Internet-based website Sept. 30.

According to the information in the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, Joseph Neil Bronson, 35, responded to an advertisement on an Internet-based website Sept. 30. The advertisement was listed as an escort service specializing in young girls in Puerto Rico.

Jurors heard testimony that Marcos Garcia, 40, was a commercial truck driver.

The investigation into the smuggling ring began in August 2014 after HSI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) identified a Mexican woman attempting to smuggle four minor unaccompanied children at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.

Anthony Pledger, aka “Polo,” “Polo B,” and “Jaden,” 27, and of Boston, Massachusetts, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. In February 2015, Pledger pleaded guilty to two counts of sex trafficking of two minor women after being indicted in February 2014.

Martin Margarito-Casimiro, 29, of Camargo, Mexico, was sentenced Sept. 24 by U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez to 480 months in federal prison sentence and a $25,000 fine.

Anthony Nelson, 33, from Tyler, pleaded guilty Nov. 10, 2014 to transporting minors and was sentenced Sept. 22 to 276 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider.

Paul Esteban Estrella Villota, 40, and Magaly Alemania Malagon Sandoya, 42, were arrested Aug. 13 in Orlando, Florida, shortly after the couple arrived in central Florida on vacation. They were extradited Sept. 11 to El Paso to face federal charges for their alleged roles in an undocumented alien smuggling conspiracy.

Dujuan Harris, 35, of Providence, was indicted on one count each of sex trafficking a child, transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, production of child pornography, possession of child pornography and witness tampering.

Victor Manuel Moreno-Ruiz, 31, also admitted that during the course of the illegal conduct, a female illegal alien died.

U.S. District Judge George P. Kazen, sentenced Jose Alfredo Lopez, 34, from Laredo, Sept. 2 to 50 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Lopez pleaded guilty to the charges Oct. 6, 2014.

“This operation was the direct result of the partnerships we’ve built and we will continue working to reinforce and grow these partnerships,” said ICE Director Sarah R. Saldaña.

According to court records, Luz Zoraida Rojas-Delgado, 32, established communication with an individual to request assistance to smuggle a friend from Antigua to Puerto Rico. The criminal complaint also alleges that she engaged in communications with other people in an attempt to make a deal for the venture but did not agree with the price of $3,000 established by the alleged smuggler.

According to court records, Alain Rene Leichtnam, 71, was arrested April 29 when CBP and Coast Guard assets intercepted a sailing vessel heading toward Coral Bay in St. John, Virgin Islands. Leichtnam admitted that he transported the Cuban nationals to the United States for financial gain knowing that such conduct was illegal.