News Releases and Statements

Jose De La Cruz Ajqui, 27, a citizen of Guatemala last residing in Willimantic, was identified by ICE's Secure Communities program despite his use of a false identity after being arrested by Willimantic police. Once removability was established ERO officers lodged a detainer May 7, 2013.

David Aguilar-Araiza, 22, was charged in a one-count indictment. He was originally arrested and removed from the country in April 2012. He faces up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Marcos Martinez-Gutierrez, 43, a citizen of Mexico last residing in Norwalk, was identified by ICE's Secure Communities program after being arrested by Norwalk police. Once removability was established ERO officers lodged a detainer March 2, 2013.

Sergio Gallardo-Sanchez, 33, was escorted by ERO officers to the Brownsville Port of Entry in Texas and turned over to Mexican law-enforcement authorities early Friday.

Osbaldo Carrillo-Peralta, 39, was escorted to the Brownsville Port of Entry and turned over to Mexico's Procuraduría General de la República (PGR) June 24. On April 13, 2011, the 8th Judicial Court of the State of Durango, Mexico issued an arrest warrant for Carrillo-Peralta for homicide.

Pichoch Herrera-Ortega, aka "Pedro Ortega-Rondon," aka "Pedro Rondon-Silvestre," aka "Jose Rivera," aka "Omar Rivera," aka "Omar Acevado," 35, of Philadelphia, was originally removed from the country in December 2011. He faces up to 20 years in prison.

Zeng Wei, 51, a major shareholder and director of United Win Holdings Limited, was arrested Jan. 27 by HSI special agents. Zeng later waived his right for the extradition proceedings in the United States and agreed to surrender himself to Hong Kong voluntarily.

Juan Carlos Tellar-Mendoza, 27, of Scranton, who was originally removed from the country in 2004, faces two years in prison if convicted.

Luigi Coppola, 46, who was living in Chambersburg, was originally removed from the country in December 2007. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.

Antonio Figueroa-Zamora, 29, who was living in Stroudsburg, was originally removed from the country in December 2010. He faces two years in prison if convicted.

Wei Li, age unknown, of Clifton, Colorado, was arrested without incident at the Balanced Healing Massage and Spa (Balanced Healing) in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Pablo Christian Larumbe Rojas, 34, was transferred to the custody of representatives from the Mexican Attorney General's Office. A warrant issued by authorities in Mexico City accuses Larumbe of murder and kidnapping in connection with the September 2010 disappearance of Carlos Palomares Maldonado, who purportedly owed the suspect's criminal confederates roughly $3,000.

Operation Cross Check, which began May 18 and concluded Saturday, is the latest effort by ICE to prioritize the removal of criminal aliens and egregious immigration violators. Arrests were made in the following six states: Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Kansas and Missouri. The 287 men and 10 women arrested are from 29 countries.

Roohid Hakimi, 29, is accused of attempted murder, careless use of a firearm, possession of a weapon for dangerous purposes and unauthorized possession of a firearm. The charges stem from an alleged 2011 restaurant shooting in Vaughan, Ontario, that left one man injured.

Agustin Lopez-Velasco, 38, a native and citizen of Mexico unlawfully residing in the United States, was charged in a two-count indictment by a federal grand jury in Harrisburg. If convicted, Lopez-Velasco faces a maximum sentence of up to 12 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

During the operation, ICE officers arrested a total of 27 individuals; seven immigration fugitives who ignored lawful orders of removal, eight individuals who illegally re-entered the United States after being deported and 12 other immigration violators. It's a felony for someone to re-enter the United States after being deported, which if convicted, is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Of the total 27 arrested, 22 had criminal histories including assault, battery, burglary, child endangerment, counterfeiting, disorderly conduct, DUI, heroin possession, prostitution, resisting arrest and theft.

During the enforcement effort, which concluded late Wednesday, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers assigned to the agency's Fugitive Operations Teams sought to locate and take custody of deportable alien sex offenders in six Southland counties - Los Angeles (31), San Bernardino (11), Riverside (8), Orange (4), Ventura (2) and Santa Barbara (1). The majority of those arrested were Mexican citizens (38), but the group also included nationals of El Salvador (8), the Philippines (4), Honduras (2), Guatemala (2), Vietnam (1), Samoa (1) and Panama (1).

Edgar Ulices Velasquez, aka "Edgar Giovanni Hernandez," 32, of Allentown, who was originally removed from the country in 2002, faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Jose Efrain Martinez-Aguilar, aka Carlos Oreana Benitez, 48, a native and citizen of Honduras living in the United States illegally, was charged with illegal re-entry after having been convicted of an aggravated felony involving the trafficking of controlled substances. Arturo Leal-Calderone, 36, a native and citizen of Mexico also living in the United States illegally, was charged with illegal re-entry.

Of the 63 arrested, all individuals had prior criminal convictions, including: criminal sexual conduct against a minor; larceny; bribing a public official; manufacture, delivery and possession of controlled substances including heroin, cocaine and marijuana; and, weapons offenses.

Marcos Guillen-Guillen, and Johnny Martinez-Palacios, both 32, were charged in separate indictments with being in the country illegally. Both men formerly resided in Cumberland County.

Cesar Lisandro Anaya, 27, was removed to El Salvador May 28 via government charter flight from Dallas and was turned over to officials from El Salvador's Policia Nacional Civil (PNC).

Wai Chiu "Tony" Ng, 57, was escorted by ERO officers on a multi-segment commercial flight that left Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Tuesday morning and arrived at Hong Kong International Airport Wednesday night (local time). Ng had been held at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma since his parole from Washington state prison in December.

Leo Charles Koppala, 48, was escorted by ICE officers on a commercial flight and turned over to Indian authorities May 14 in New Delhi, India.

The following individuals who were unlawfully in the United States have been charged: Santiago Ortiz-Ortiz, 49, a native and citizen of Mexico, was charged in a one-count indictment alleging that after he was previously arrested and deported, he knowingly and unlawfully reentered the United States. Claudio Villa-Vera, 26, a native and citizen of Ecuador, was charged in a one-count indictment alleging that after he was arrested and deported, he knowingly and unlawfully reentered the United States. Jose Gonzalez-Sanchez, 25, a native and citizen of Mexico, was charged in a one-count indictment alleging that after he was previously arrested and deported, he knowingly and unlawfully reentered the United States.