News Releases and Statements

Donnie Barnes Sr., 52, was convicted of production of child pornography, distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography following a two-day jury trial. Barnes faces a mandatory minimum 15-year prison term when sentenced by U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle February 3, 2020.

ICE HSI Buffalo Task Force Officer Detective Theresa Nietzel of the Erie County Sheriff's Office was awarded HSI’s Human Trafficking Task Force Officer of the Year at the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference this week in Chicago.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on Oct. 5, 2017, authorities executed a search warrant at the home of Thomas Noble, 71, in New Castle, Delaware. When they arrived, officers found Noble's personal computer actively downloading child pornography files through a peer-to-peer file sharing network called BitTorrent. A forensic examination of Noble's computer found hundreds of files of child pornography.

During the first two games of the 2019 World Series, HSI encountered an increase in the sale of counterfeit tickets.

A citizen of the Russian Federation, who was convicted of conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government, was removed from the U.S. Friday, pursuant to a judicial removal order, by officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Miguel Sanchez Alvarez, aka Raul Laureano Sanchez Alvarez, 43, of Mesa, Arizona, was sentenced Oct. 22 to 36 months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised release.

On April 30, 2017, Vasquez and her brother, Manuel Martinez, 40, of Saginaw, were arrested at the Anzalduas Port of Entry with about 30 kilos of methamphetamine in their vehicle. To avoid suspicion, the drugs were stashed in a load of milk and juice containers. Martinez was sentenced previously to 120 months in prison for his role in this crime.

Alberto Bernal Garcia, who illegally resided in Houston, Texas, pleaded guilty to the criminal charges April 16. He was sentenced to 10 years each for the receipt and possession convictions, respectively. These sentences will run concurrently. 

Pamela Sue Hannan, 66, of Sherman, Texas, and Pamela Sue Jennings, 68, of Houston, Texas, were indicted by a federal grand jury Oct. 16.   Both defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Carlos Cantizano, 46, of Rialito Calf will also be required to register as a sex offender and will be on a lifetime supervised release following his imprisonment. According to court documents, Cantizano was in possession of images of children under the age of 12 engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

“This sentence is well deserved and further demonstrates the lengths of criminal activity by those who seek to engage in illegally obtaining sophisticated materials,” said Scott Brown, special agent in charge for HSI Phoenix. “One of HSI’s top priorities is preventing U.S. military products and sensitive technology from falling into the hands of those who might seek to harm America or its interests. We will continue to aggressively pursue violators wherever they may be.”

Antonio Serrano-Perez, 39, of Tamaulipas, Mexico, was sentenced Oct. 18 before Senior U.S. District Judge John H. McBryde, who imposed the statutory maximum sentence based in part on the defendant’s lengthy criminal history. 

Since September 2011, HSI has been conducting an international cultural property investigation relating to several historically significant, printed letters authored by explorer Christopher Columbus during his return trip from the New World in 1493.

Jenny Hernandez, 51, of Parkland, Florida, was sentenced to 18 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to visa fraud. Hernandez attempted to obtain visas with false information for individuals from overseas.

The following four operators were charged with one count of knowingly harboring an illegal alien and one count of knowingly engaging in a pattern or practice of hiring illegal aliens: Dora Kuzelka, 81, of Elgin, Illinois; Kenneth Kuzelka, 62, of Chicago; Kari Kuzelka, 56, of Elgin; and Keith Kuzelka, 58, of Elgin.

Amir Abdelghani, 59, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his part in the conspiracy headed by the Egyptian cleric Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman to target the United Nations, FBI offices and other New York City landmarks.

The charges are against nine alleged members of a criminal organization that trafficked in heroin and the potent synthetic opioid fentanyl in the Soundview section of the Bronx and in Westchester County. More than 30 pounds of heroin and fentanyl, five handguns, an assault rifle and $170,000 cash have been recovered.

Jose Pastrano-Rios also known as “El Bigotes,” 53, of Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico pleaded guilty May 9, to sexual assault. According to state court documents, Pastrano repeatedly raped a woman and subsequently threatened and intimated her. He will not receive credit for time served.