News Releases and Statements
News Releases and Statements
Keith A. Arrick Sr., 47, of Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 13 years in prison for sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion.
Jaime Cisneros, 50, of Roma, Texas, pleaded guilty Feb. 2 to possessing with intent to distribute about 434 kilograms (957 pounds) of marijuana.
Brandon Crow, 30, of Garland, Texas, was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison, and Rhonda Long, aka “Queen Saltine,” 51, of Mesquite, Texas, was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison. Both pleaded guilty in January 2015 to one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending June 5, 2015
Gussoni and his fiancée Amber Bass, a nurse practitioner, were driving along I-10 in Cochise County, Arizona, on their way to have lunch with a retired HSI special agent May 30. Traffic began to slow, and when they came around the bend, the couple saw why. A Jeep had flipped over, was on its roof and smoke was pouring out of it.
William Anthony Huff, 53, was a businessman who orchestrated a $53 million fraud on the IRS and other schemes, spanning four states, involving tax violations, bank bribery, fraud on bank regulators, and the fraudulent purchase of an insurance company.
The indictment resulted from a lengthy investigation titled “Operation Midnight Run” by ICE's HSI, the New Jersey State Police - Interstate Theft North Unit and the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice - Specialized Crimes Bureau.
Those arrested are from 13 different countries and wanted for crimes abroad. Of the 27, five are wanted for homicide, two for kidnapping, one for raping a child and one for human sex trafficking.
Chief District Court Judge Dana Christensen sentenced Mark Irvin Roberts, 50, of Newport, Washington, to 78 months in prison, five years of supervised release, and $5,000 in restitution, in addition to forfeiting $278,370 in connection with the offense.
Benjamin Granados-Lupian, 32, from Mexico, pleaded guilty to smuggling charges about one month after his arrest. He was convicted of conspiracy to harbor and transport illegal aliens and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. The following five co-conspirators were convicted of the same charges: Jose Aviles-Villa, 32, Antonio Barruquet-Hildeberta, 46, Jonathan Solorzano-Tavila, 30, Jose Cesmas-Borja, 26, and Eugenio Sesmas-Borja, 20.
The investigation of Major General Carlos Flores Garcia, former comptroller of the Philippine Armed Forces, began in 2004. General Garcia was suspected of using his official position to illegally accept commissions, bribes, kickbacks, gifts and other benefits in connection with government contracts and projects he oversaw as comptroller.
On June 4, ICE deported Alfredo Napoleon Portillo-Coreas, 25, onboard a charter flight coordinated by ICE’s Air Operations (IAO) Unit. He was released to the custody of El Salvador’s Policia Nacional Civil (PNC).
Raymond Edward Russ Jr., 47, of Kountze, Texas, was sentenced June 2 by U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield to 120 months in federal prison for coercion and enticement involving the sexual exploitation of a child. Russ was indicted by a federal grand jury June 24, 2014; he pleaded guilty to the charges Oct. 17.
Rodolfo Quiambao, 71, of Queens, New York allegedly bribed Con Ed supervisors in exchange for receiving lucrative contracts from the public utility services provider. Quiambao’s arrest is the latest part of the government’s continuing investigation of bribery and kickback schemes involving employees of Con Ed.
Under the settlement agreement, Broetje Orchards does not admit to any criminal wrongdoing, but does acknowledge HSI auditors found that it continued to employ unauthorized workers after being advised by ICE those employees did not have permission to work in the United States.
Luis Enrique Guevara, 44, of Brownsville, Texas, entered his guilty plea June 4 in federal court admitting he transported three illegal aliens in a Nissan Pathfinder.
A criminal information was filed charging Marc Accardi, 42, with receiving and distributing child pornography. It alleges he used a cell phone and a computer to download and distribute images of child pornography from March through May 2015.
Paul J. Monteiro, aka “Peezy,” 29, of Providence, received a three-count indictment charging alleged transportation of a 14-year-old Rhode Island girl to New Jersey for the purpose of engaging in commercial sexual activity.
Magdy Fouad Anise, aka Michael Anise, 51, of Aberdeen Township, New Jersey, was charged with structuring cash transactions to avoid reporting requirements and structuring more than $100,000.
In October 2013, Khaophone Sychantha, 32, aka Kao, whose last known residence was Lakeshore, Ontario, was charged in a four-count federal indictment with distribution of a controlled substance following an ICE HSI probe.
Matthew C. Harbin, 29, of Arab, Alabama, was arrested Tuesday in Cameron County, Texas, while living under an assumed identity.
Since last October, 108 criminal aliens were arrested in Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia as part of the ERO Philadelphia’s focus on removing those who pose a public-safety threat. These aliens are priorities for removal as established in the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Nov. 20, 2014 memorandum entitled “Policies for the Apprehension, Detention and Removal of Undocumented Immigrants.”
This year’s participants include federal and state prosecutors, investigators, prison officials and military personnel from throughout Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. The training, led by instructors from the United States, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, is designed to enhance the ability of law enforcement personnel to respond to and identify potential threats posed by gang members and their associates who operate throughout the region.
Patrick Newman, 33, appeared June 2 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dave Whalin. He is charged with engaging in unlawful online communications with a 13-year-old male (“John Doe”) using the social media applications VINE and KIK. Newman illegally used a means or facility of interstate commerce to knowingly persuade, induce, entice or coerce John Doe to engage in sex.
Lucas J. Reinmann, 35, of Boonton, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty, on Jan. 15, 2015, to one count of knowingly receiving images of child pornography over the internet.
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