News Releases and Statements

Hector Diaz-Luciano, 44, of Yauco, and Juan Ortiz-Rios, 37, of Gurabo, were arrested Friday and Monday, respectively, following an HSI investigation that revealed they used a peer-to-peer (P2P) network to download sexually explicit images and videos depicting child pornography.

George Deleon, 65, of Cuero, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison, the statutory maximum, which is to be immediately followed by 15 years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to the charges March 2.

Humberto Reveles, 60, and Maria Isabel Lerma, 32, both from Brownsville, admitted selling membership in the Yamassee tribe as part of a scheme to defraud. Reveles was the tribe’s chief, and later grand chief. He sold these memberships to illegal aliens in the United States.

Latonya Lanette Carson, 41, Ricardo Garth Solomon, 49, and Smith Olsola Akin, 32, made their initial appearances in federal court and each remains in custody. A detention hearing is set for June 1 for Carson. Another defendant, Segun Edomwonyi, aka “Benny O. Prince,” 49, is still at large.

The charges stem from schemes used by Alejandro Mayendia-Blanco, Orlando Mayendia-Diaz and Nell Blanco-Casasnovas to obtain money from mortgage lending institutions.

Justin Kinney, 26, of Newark, pleaded guilty to two counts of producing child pornography. Kinney was previously arrested and charged by federal complaint on April 20, 2014.

Patrick T. Deck, 54, of Watchung, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty on Sept. 16, 2014, to two counts of transportation of child pornography.

Luke Atwell, 34, of Hamilton, New Jersey, and Christopher Castelluzzo, 30, of Bayonne, New Jersey, were convicted on one count each of conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute methylone, cocaine, MDMA, and marijuana.

McMahon and Perez were in Washington, D.C. for National Police Week. The two were presented a token of appreciation for their service by HSI Deputy Executive Associate Director Derek Benner at ICE headquarters. As HSI National Honor Guard members, in addition to honoring the fallen, they have represented the agency at formal events and ceremonies often at a moment’s notice, leaving lifelong impressions on families and loved ones during their difficult time.

Hassan Salem H. M. Al Homoud and his wife, Zainab Al Hosani, and their two children, live in San Antonio while Al Homoud is attending military training at Camp Bullis, according to a federal criminal complaint filed June 1. Camp Bullis is a training facility located at Joint Base San Antonio.

Orlando Rosario-Concepcion, 28, of Paterson, New Jersey, is accused of heading the Bronx and Washington Heights-based drug trafficking organization that supplied local dealers in New York City, upstate counties and Long Island. Jonathan Almonte, 27, Rodolofo Abreu-Crisotomo, 31, Jean Carlos Rosario-Ortiz, 28, Deckson Holguin-Rosario, 28 all from New York, New York are accused of overseeing an alleged heroin packaging mill.

U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger sentenced Patrick Ronald Silva, 44, of Burnsville, to more than 21 years in prison on production of child pornography charges. Judge Reidinger also sentenced Robert George Ross Thursday on child pornography charges.

Ross Ulbricht, aka “Dread Pirate Roberts,” was sentenced Friday in federal court to life in prison in connection with his operation and ownership of Silk Road, a hidden website designed to enable its users to buy and sell illegal drugs and other unlawful goods and services anonymously and beyond the reach of law enforcement between January 2011 and October 2013. 

Gerson Adiel Segovia Alvarado and Nilson De Jesus Lozano Hernandez were transferred into Interpol custody immediately following their arrival in San Salvador, El Salvador.

ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending May 29, 2015

Cornelis Jan Slomp, 23, of Woerden, the Netherlands, previously pleaded guilty in April 2014 to conspiracy to import and distribute various controlled substances worldwide. Slomp was also ordered to forfeit $3,030,000 in illegal drug proceeds from his criminal enterprise.

When Carlos Poysky merged his passion for kiteboarding with his desire to serve America’s veterans, Wind Sports for Wounded Warriors (WS4WW) took flight.

The ceremony was held in coordination with the Carabinieri Tutela Patrimonio Culturale (TPC), Italy’s cultural property investigative unit, and recognized the collaborative and investigative work by HSI special agents, TPC investigators, prosecutors from various United States Attorney’s Offices and U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers to return stolen cultural artifacts.

The 35-count indictment, returned on May 21, and unsealed today, names the following 12 individuals as defendants: Han Tong, Xi Fu, Xiaojin Guo, Yudong Zhang, Yue Zou, Biyuan Li (aka “Jack Li”), Jia Song, Ning Wei, Gong Zhang, Songling Peng, Siyuan Zhao and Yunlin Sun. The identities of the three additional defendants remain under seal.

Eric Worrell, 57, of Rancho Cordova, has been in federal custody since his arrest March 19. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh F. Sigal is prosecuting the case.

Andrew Harrison Fowler, 25, of Murrieta, a convicted sex offender who is on parole for having unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, has been charged in federal court for allegedly distributing child pornography over the Internet.

Kenneth Kapikian, 57, of Wayne, Pennsylvania, and Dennis Gagliardi, 60, of Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, were each charged with seven counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Martin Margarito-Casimiro, 28, of Camargo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, pleaded guilty to kidnapping on May 27.

Dozens of ERO officers participated in the operation from May 17 to 21 that focused on the arrests of public safety threats. Those arrested are from all over the world and have a wide-array of criminal convictions – many have committed multiple offenses.