News Releases and Statements

Yasser Saleh Ouwad, a 52-year-old resident of Houston, was sentenced Nov. 15 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas to 41 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to transport stolen merchandise.

ERO Houston, with assistance from ERO Mexico and the SAFE Task Force, removed two unlawfully present foreign fugitives from the United States to Mexico on Nov. 15.

Individuals who lack a lawful basis to stay in the United States are ordered removed, consistent with U.S. law. All individuals who are removed have been screened for protection concerns.

The 52-year-old citizen of Jamaica, who has been unlawfully present in the United States for more than two years, was arrested by local police on two counts of rape and one count of assault to rape. He was arraigned in the Falmouth District Court in Falmouth, Massachusetts on Oct. 27.

Julio Garca IV, 22, was sentenced on Nov. 14 to 45 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court commented on how it was important to remember someone died.

Carlos Manuel da Silva Santos, 29, of Portugal, was taken into custody in Newark, New Jersey, as he arrived in the United States from abroad.

The four-state Organized Retail Crime Alliance connects federal, state and local law enforcement and prosecutors, as well as financial and retail industry partners, from all four states. The ORCA initiative is part of a larger nationwide strategic partnership for HSI to identify, investigate and prosecute organized retail crime.

Both Campos and Argueta-Chica are members of the Weedams Locos Salvatrucha (WLS) clique of the MS-13 gang, which operated primarily in Adelphi, Maryland.

Consistent with ICE protocols, the appropriate components were notified about the death, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Inspector General, and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility.

According to the investigation, authorities arrested Jose Arellano-Rodriguez, 26, of Durham, North Carolina, Aug. 2 at a rest stop in New Kent County after he attempted to pay $90,000 for what he believed was a load of more than 50 kilograms of cocaine.

ERO Philadelphia removed Felix Valoy Gondola Moreno, a fugitive from Panama who was living in the United States illegally, on Nov. 8.

Gerardo Hernandez, 40, of Tucson, pleaded guilty on May 5 to importation of fentanyl.

Deportation officers from ERO Baltimore’s Fugitive Operations Team arrested the 37-year-old Salvadoran national, who has been charged by authorities in El Salvador with crimes relating to public peace, illicit groups and illegally carrying a firearm.

Individuals who lack a lawful basis to stay in the United States are ordered removed, consistent with U.S. law. All individuals who are removed have been screened for protection concerns.

Derek Wai Hung Tam Sing, 52, was sentenced by a federal judge Nov. 8 to 46 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.

A federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging Carlos Alberto Hernandez-Laguer aka Brea, Luis Roberto De Leon-Sanchez aka Coco, and Misael Ruiz-Valentin aka Misa, with four counts of conspiracy to import cocaine, importation of cocaine, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

Elena Barrera, a 45-year-old resident of Mathis, pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Texas to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute liquid methamphetamines.

Heriberto Mendez-Lozano, 25, of McAllen, was convicted Nov. 8 on all counts following a three-day trial.

Marlon Zurita, 47, appeared before a federal judge on Nov. 8 and was sentenced to 136 months in prison followed by 20 years of supervised release. Zurita pleaded guilty Dec. 22 and admitted to receiving over 1,800 images and video files depicting child sexual abuse.

Deportation officers from ERO San Antonio removed Wilian Emilson Castro Bustillo, 34, from the United States to Honduras on Oct. 30 via ICE Air Operations.

Deportation officers from ERO San Antonio and ERO Harlingen removed Oscar Arturo Arriola Marquez, 54, from the United States to Mexico on Nov. 1.

According to court documents, Eric Caleb Carlson, 43, of Wichita, admitted to downloading and receiving videos and images depicting prepubescent children subjected to sex acts.

ERO Baltimore apprehended an undocumented noncitizen convicted of sex crimes against a Maryland minor. Deportation officers from ERO Baltimore’s Fugitive Operations Team apprehended the 37-year-old Mexican national Nov. 3 in Joppa.

The suspects, Juan Camilo Valoyes, a.k.a “el cabe,”; Wilmer Flores, a.k.a. “chatarra”; and David Junior Peréz, a.k.a. “el junior,” face various charges. The charges include, aggravated homicide; manufacture, trafficking or illegal transport of firearms; qualified and aggravated robbery, and receipt of stolen property.

Individuals who lack a lawful basis to stay in the United States are ordered removed, consistent with U.S. law. All individuals who are removed have been screened for protection concerns.