News Releases and Statements

Justin Williams, 30, of Hattiesburg, was sentenced June 18, 2020, to 84 months in federal prison by Senior U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett, for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Following his prison term, Williams must serve five years of supervised release.

Micky Rife, 36, formerly of Salyersville, Kentucky, was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove. In his plea agreement, Rife admitted that between Sept. 3, 2012, and Dec. 9, 2018, he traveled in foreign commerce, and between March 7, 2013, and Dec. 9, 2018, he resided in Cambodia, and that during those periods of time, he touched two minor females under their clothing and inside or on their genital areas on more than one occasion. He further admitted that both minor victims were under the age of 12 when the illicit conduct occurred.

Jorge Juan Torres-Lopez, 66, who served as the interim governor of Coahuila, Mexico, in 2011, admitted to conducting financial transactions in the United States to conceal bribes that he received in exchange for assigning road-building contracts in Coahuila.

Dylan Lee Hooks, 24, was sentenced June 15, 2020, to a total of 77 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release on one count of distribution of a controlled substance that contained methamphetamine. According to court documents, in the fall of 2019, detectives with the 18th JDEDTF launched an investigation into Hooks for drug trafficking in the Western District of Arkansas.

Lore-Elisabeth Blumenthal, 33, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is currently in federal custody and had her initial appearance in federal court yesterday. The government will be filing a motion for the defendant to be detained pending trial.

On March 19 due to precautions implemented by employers and employees associated with COVID-19, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it would exercise prosecutorial discretion to defer the physical presence requirements associated with the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) under section 274A of the Immigration and Nationality Act. This provision, as explained in the guidance below, was implemented for 60 days and was set to expire on May 19.

Murder suspect Jorge Omar Alcantara-Gonzalez, 41, is a Mexican citizen who is in the United States illegally. On June 14, Alcantara-Gonzalez was arrested by the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Department, charged with murder, burglary, theft and a variety of other local charges in connection with the disappearance of Ian Eckles. Eckles, 41, has been missing out of Kent since mid-May.

In 2019, Vladimir Penda, a crew member who worked on board the shipping vessel MSC Gayane as the ship’s fourth engineer, conspired with others to engage in bulk cocaine smuggling.

Project iGuardian shares information that can help keep children and teens protected from predators and settings online where they could be exploited sexually. The program is tailored to youth of all ages – from young children to teens – as well as parents and educators.  It’s designed to encourage smart online practices and provide safety tips, a number to call to report suspicious activity, and a website with links to more information and resources.

The indictment returned this afternoon charges four men, all of Sinaloa, Mexico, with one count of possession with intent to distribute at least 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, a crime that carries a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment and mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison: Alejo Garcia-Moreno, 54; Benito Garcia-Moreno, 59, Alejo Garcia-Moreno’s brother; Mario Sainz-Aranzubia, 44, a cousin of Alejo and Benito Garcia-Moreno; and Benny Zazueta-Sainz, 28, Sainz-Aranzubia’s nephew.

Jonathan Weiss, a/k/a "Ian_Jameson," is charged with communicating with three different underage victims online and directing them to take sexually explicit images and send them to Weiss.

Ricardo Uribe, 37, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release for distribution of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.

Juan Pablo Hoyos Avila, 22, from Mexico, residing in San Antonio was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Fred Biery to five years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.

A Gambian man previously residing in Denver, Colorado, was arrested today on torture charges stemming from his actions specifically intended to inflict severe physical pain and suffering on individuals in his custody and control in The Gambia in 2006.

Ezequiel Sandoval-Garcia, 34, is wanted by the country of Mexico.

Jose Luis Rodriguez-Vasquez, 37, is a Salvadoran national wanted by law enforcement authorities for the rape of a minor or disabled person in his native country.

Armen Martirosyan, 62, pleaded guilty today to a federal fraud charge for opening more than a dozen bank accounts, knowing that they would be used to launder fraudulently obtained tax refunds obtained by filing tax returns under stolen identities.

Theron Charles Barron, 28, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Jesus G. Bernal – the same judge who sentenced him in his first child pornography case.

Juan Hernandez was escorted by immigration officers assigned to the ERO Newark field office and turned over to Salvadoran law enforcement authorities without incident.

Harry George Bock II, 47, pleaded guilty Tuesday to his role in a scheme to illegally sell protected living rock cactus plants, following an investigation by special agents with ICE's HSI.