News Releases and Statements

On May 3, 2016, in a joint U.S.-European enforcement action, law enforcement dismantled the ItalianMafiaBrussels Drug Trafficking Organization, arresting 10 defendants during early morning raids in Bruges, Belgium, and surrounding areas. Filip Lucian Simion and Leonardo Cristea were arrested simultaneously in Bucharest, Romania, and extradited to the District of Colorado in July and October 2016, respectively.

Anthony “Tony” Mace, 66, of the United Kingdom, the former CEO of SBM Offshore, N.V. (SBM), a Dutch oil services company, and a former board member of SBM’s U.S.-based subsidiary, SBM Offshore USA Inc. (SBM USA), was sentenced to serve three years in federal prison and to pay a fine of $150,000. Robert Zubiate, 66, of Agoura Hills, California, a former sales and marketing executive at SBM USA, was sentenced to serve 30 months in prison and to pay a $50,000 fine.

Members of the conspiracy included police officers who provided information regarding investigations of the conspirators, interfered in police investigations for the benefit of the conspirators and provided information to the conspirators on how to avoid police detection.

Michael Mugavero of Tucson, is suspected of using social media including posting videos to advertise the sale of drugs, which he had illegally imported from Canada through an international mail parcel.

The majority of the aliens targeted by ERO deportation officers during this operation, which included the entire state of Nevada, had prior criminal convictions for serious or violent offenses, such as assault, battery, domestic violence, DUI, weapons charges and drug violations, among others.

Ralph Colamussi, of East Northport, NY pleaded guilty to charges of forced labor of employees at the Thatched Cottage, a catering and wedding venue in Centerport, New York. When sentenced, Colamussi faces up to 20 years in prison, as well as restitution and a fine of up to $250,000.

The arrestees (96 males and nine females) included nationals from 21 countries: Albania, Burma, China, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Macedonia, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Suriname, Vietnam, and Yemen.

Jose Yobani Hernandez-Sanches, also known as Jose Antonio Hernandez-Rangel, 26, was illegally present in the United States. He is accused of multiple homicides that occurred in and around Piedras Negras, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Mexico. Hernandez-Sanches, was escorted by ICE officers to the U.S.-Mexico border at Laredo, Texas, and transferred to Mexican authorities Sept. 26.

Foreign nationals from the following countries were arrested during the operation: Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Portugal, Ireland, Brazil, Jamaica, Cuba, Ecuador, among others.

During this operation, ERO deportation officers made arrests in the following 38 Texas cities and towns: Amarillo (2), Arlington (2), Athens (1), Big Spring (1), Bridgeport (1), Canton (1), Carrollton (1), Dallas (11), Denton (3), Fort Worth (5), Frisco (3), Garland (1), Gilmer (4), Grapevine (1), Greenville (1), Haltom City (1), Haslett (1), Hawley (1), Irving (6), Jacksboro (2), Kaufman (1), Lewisville (2), Longview (2), Lubbock (9), McKinney (3), Mesquite (2), Palestine (2), Pampa (4), Perryton (2), Plainview (2), Plano (1), Sache (1), San Angelo (2), Sherman (2), Tyler (1), Wichita Falls (1) and White Oak (1). A total of 11 arrests were made in Oklahoma in Oklahoma City (3) and Tulsa (8).

The arrestees (138 men and 12 women) included nationals from 12 countries: Argentina (1), Armenia (1), Belize (2), Canada (1), El Salvador (6), Guatemala (9), Honduras (3), Lebanon (1), Mexico (123), Nicaragua (1), Singapore (1), Philippines (1).

Muhammad Sohail Qasmani, 50, was convicted on June 28, 2017, in federal court for the offense of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and sentenced to 48 months imprisonment and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $70,960,070.73

Former teacher Yaira Tanies Cotto-Flores was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison followed by eight years of supervised release for transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual conduct.

In addition to the recognition of SERVEPRO and Pilot Freight Services, more than 60 Detroit-area employers attended an open house where they heard expert presentations about Form I-9 training, USCIS E-Verify updates, Office of Special Counsel training and fraudulent document detection training.

During this operation, ERO officers made arrests in the following 14 Wisconsin counties: Brown (9), Dane (20), Door (2), Eau Claire (4), Kewaunee (4), Marathon (6), Milwaukee (15), Oconto (1), Outagamie (3), Racine (1), Rock (5), Taylor (7), Trempealeau (4) and Waukesha (2). Of the 83 arrested, 44 had criminal convictions. Six women and 77 men were arrested.

The destruction – which marked the first time Vietnam has invited U.S. government representatives in Ho Chi Minh City to attend such an event – came on the heels of a visit to Vietnam by White House Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator Vishal Amin and HSI Global Trade Investigations Assistant Director Alex Khu.

ERO deportation officers turned Arnulfo Silva-Gonzalez over to Guatemalan authorities at La Aurora International Airport upon his arrival in his home country.

Juan Carlos Castillo Rincon (Castillo), 55, of Conroe, Texas, previously of Miami, Florida, pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas to one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).  Castillo is scheduled to be sentenced, Feb. 21, 2019.

Stephen P. Lynch, 43, of Kingwood, Texas, was sentenced to 360 months for sexual exploitation of a minor, and 60 months for possession of child pornography, respectively. His prison terms will run consecutively. Lynch pleaded guilty to both charges on June 6, 2018.

Manuel Humberto Guillen-Galdamez, 28, departed the U.S. from Alexandria International Airport in Alexandria, Louisiana, and ERO transferred him to Salvadoran law enforcement authorities without incident at Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport (MSLP) in San Salvador, El Salvador.

In the course of Operation SOAR, ERO deportation officers apprehended 16 individuals with criminal histories related to sexual offenses. Of those arrested, 5 were previously released from local law enforcement on an active detainer.

On Sept. 10, U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo accepted the guilty pleas of Mario Emiliano-Herrera and Julio Cesar Lopez-Nino, both 19 and from Mexico, for their role in transporting illegal aliens, resulting in a death.