News Releases and Statements

The warrants resulted from a large multi-jurisdictional investigation into the illegal growth and distribution of marijuana. As a result of the search warrants, over 1,000 marijuana plants were found, as were about 50 pounds of dried marijuana, 28 firearms (13 rifles, eight shotguns and seven handguns), and more than $25,000 in cash.

Linda A. Perez, 47, is charged by a federal grand jury indictment that was returned Sept. 3 with falsifying an identification document and four counts of using an interstate wire facility to aid an unlawful activity.

Nelson Santiago-Colon, 49, former pastor of the Peniel Christian Church located in Santa Isabel, was sentenced to 40 years in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release. Hilton Rios-Rivera, 51, of San Sebastian, was sentenced to 18 years in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release. Roberto Quiles-Ayala, of Cidra, was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release.

According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Columbus, Ohio Special Agent Cameron Bryant, many of the same threats that children face during their summer vacations remain as schools get back in session.

9 percent increase in international students, 32 percent increase in students from India since 2014

Slobodan Mutic, 52, of Barberton, Ohio, pleaded guilty to one count of knowingly and willingly possessing a former U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Form I-94, knowing it to be forged, counterfeited, altered, falsely made or to be have been procured by means of a false claim or statement.

Ruben James Rios, from San Juan, Texas, who remains in custody, pleaded guilty to one count of receiving child pornography.

Keith Dwayne Marks Jr., 20, pleaded guilty Sept. 3 to producing child pornography before U.S. Magistrate Judge Zack Hawthorn. Marks was indicted by a federal grand jury June 4.

Leon Lussier, 49, of Bowling Green, Kentucky, was arrested Sept. 1 and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Brent Brennenstuhl the same day. Lussier was employed by the Bowling Green Independent School District as a substitute teacher.

On Monday, MPD detectives with assistance from HSI and U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency agents arrested Siraj Issa, 33, of Northwest, DC, and Yenework Abera, 41, of Alexandria, Virginia, in Northwest, DC. They have been charged with possession with intent to distribute synthetic cannabinoids.

Kyuseop Maeng, 50, was transported from Los Angeles to South Korea on board a commercial aircraft escorted by officers from ICE ERO. Maeng is charged with fraud in a criminal warrant issued in January 2011 by Korean authorities. Specifically, the warrant alleges that, during a one-month period beginning in November 2010, Maeng embezzled the equivalent of $3.5 million from investors in his trading company before fleeing to the U.S.

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.

The man, in his late 80s, received information in the fall of 2013, that stated he had won a lottery prize. He was later contacted by a man who told him he owed taxes and other expenses ranging from $5,000 to $80,000 to receive his prize. The fraudsters cheated him out of nearly $150,000 before his son reported the scam to law enforcement.

Isaias Perez-Pineda, 43, was turned over to Mexican authorities at the top of El Paso’s Stanton International Bridge. Perez-Pineda is a suspect in the 1995 homicide of Juventino Rojas Sanchez, 33, in Mexico’s capital.

“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.

Called Operation Cyber Juice, the nationwide enforcement effort, which involved more than 30 U.S. investigations in 20 states, resulted in 90 arrests. Additionally, investigators seized 16 underground steroid labs; 134,000 doses of steroids; 636 kilograms of raw steroid powder; 8,200 liters of raw steroid injectable liquid; and more than $2 million in cash and assets.

Ricardo Valentino Lee Mc Carthy, 43, was repatriated under ERO escort on board a commercial flight from McCarren International Airport. Upon arrival, ERO officers turned the suspect over to authorities from the Panamanian Judicial Police. Mc Carthy is wanted in Panama for a murder that occurred Aug. 27, 2002.

According to court documents, Ronet Blanc, 24, and Renet Blanc, 20, were involved in a scheme that used the stolen identities of Michigan and Florida residents to file fraudulent unemployment insurance claims in both of those states.

All 244 of the foreign nationals taken into custody by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers during the enforcement action, which concluded Thursday, had prior criminal convictions. The majority (56 percent) had criminal records that included felony convictions for serious or violent offenses, such as child sex crimes, weapons charges and drug violations. The remaining arrestees had past convictions for significant or multiple misdemeanors.

The two arrested, Alfonso Rodriguez-Vazquez and Nestor Fabian Sinaloa-Sinaloa, are due back in court Sept. 3 for a detention hearing and a preliminary hearing. Both are currently in custody.

U.S. District Judge Ricardo Hinojosa sentenced Mario Alberto Garcia-Balderas, 45, of Mexico, to 10 years in federal prison for being illegally in the United States, possessing a firearm, and as a felon possessing a firearm.

According to Salvadoran authorities Luis Antonio Garcia Garcia, 38, is a confirmed member of Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13. Among MS-13 members, Garcia goes by the moniker “El Shaggy”. He is wanted in El Salvador for aggravated homicide related to an incident on April 12, 2008 when Garcia allegedly shot a male victim multiple times, resulting in the victim’s death on the scene.

Rateb Said Najjar, 60, and his son, Eyad Rateb Najjar, 36, both of Westminster, pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to commit trademark counterfeiting; one felony count of trademark counterfeiting; one felony count of conspiracy to commit money laundering; one felony count of money laundering; and sentencing enhancements given the value of the goods involved.