News Releases and Statements

Lenyn Acosta, 33, was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Melinda Harmon to 97 months in federal prison. Judge Harmon accepted all the guilty pleas in the case, finding that Acosta was the organizer and leader of an ongoing and extensive conspiracy involving hundreds of undocumented aliens, including juveniles. Judge Harmon also found Acosta caused serious bodily injury to a female alien he harbored by sexually assaulting her during the course of the conspiracy.

Christopher Lee, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzalez-Ramos. Lee will also serve 10 years of supervised release following completion of his prison term, during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the Internet. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. Lee pleaded guilty March 3.

In the first DTO, known as "Operation Gangster Disciples," 21 defendants were named in two separate related indictments returned by a federal grand jury in Denver on charges ranging from Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute to distribution of various drugs, including: cocaine, crack, methamphetamine, and heroin.

During the enforcement effort, which concluded late Wednesday, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers assigned to the agency's Fugitive Operations Teams sought to locate and take custody of deportable alien sex offenders in six Southland counties - Los Angeles (31), San Bernardino (11), Riverside (8), Orange (4), Ventura (2) and Santa Barbara (1). The majority of those arrested were Mexican citizens (38), but the group also included nationals of El Salvador (8), the Philippines (4), Honduras (2), Guatemala (2), Vietnam (1), Samoa (1) and Panama (1).

During the operation, ICE officers arrested a total of 27 individuals; seven immigration fugitives who ignored lawful orders of removal, eight individuals who illegally re-entered the United States after being deported and 12 other immigration violators. It's a felony for someone to re-enter the United States after being deported, which if convicted, is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Of the total 27 arrested, 22 had criminal histories including assault, battery, burglary, child endangerment, counterfeiting, disorderly conduct, DUI, heroin possession, prostitution, resisting arrest and theft.

Patrick Taylor, 34, of Pittsburgh, was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release.

Thomas Silber, 50, of Yardley, was charged with 10 counts of knowingly receiving, and attempting to receive child pornography.

Edgar Ulices Velasquez, aka "Edgar Giovanni Hernandez," 32, of Allentown, who was originally removed from the country in 2002, faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Ricardo Guerrero, 55, from Mathis, Texas, was sentenced to life in prison June 5 by Senior U.S. District Judge Hayden Head. As part of his sentence, Guerrero was also ordered to forfeit three properties to the United States and pay a $500,000 money judgment. A federal jury in Corpus Christi convicted Guerrero March 18 after deliberating about two hours following an eight-day trial. Guerrero was also sentenced for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Karin Yamilec Aguilar-Melgor, 22, pleaded guilty June 5 before U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos.

Shannon Adams, 44, of Searcy, was previously convicted in March of forcing her minor child to engage in sexual acts with Don Ray Harris, 59, of Heber Springs. Harris pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography in February and agreed to testify against Adams.

The 26 officers are assigned to the Puerto Rico police regions of Guanica, Cabo Rojo, Añasco, Arecibo, Vega Baja and San Juan. They join a select group of colleagues at the local level and more than 900 nationally who have been give the responsibility, privilege and authority to enforce the nation's customs laws.

Jose Gallegos, 47, was convicted by a Corpus Christi federal jury Dec. 10, 2013, after a two-day trial and about 45 minutes of deliberation.

Scott L. Divine, 34, of Seymour, Indiana, pleaded guilty June 4 to one count of distributing child pornography through email and was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison.

Peter Picone, 41, of Methuen, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna Martinez of the District of Connecticut to an indictment charging him with conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit military goods. In a plea agreement with the government, he also agreed to forfeit $70,050 and almost 13,000 counterfeit integrated circuits seized at his home and business in April.

This first of its kind smart phone app was designed and developed by ICE Web Content Manager, under the supervision and direction of ICE Strategic Communication Director Cori W. Bassett.

Dereck Johnson, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking children. If the Court accepts the plea agreement executed between the defendant and the government, the parties agree the appropriate term of imprisonment in this case is 15 years in federal prison.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger also ordered Kimberly Rachael Moore, 31, of Tuckasegee, to serve under court supervision the rest of her life upon release from prison and to register as a sex offender.

On Nov. 8, 2013, HSI special agents arrested Dolores Pagan-Lozada at his place of residence after an HSI investigation, which stemmed from a referral by the Puerto Rico Police Department, revealed that he engaged in sexually explicit conversations with a 16-year-old minor identified as Jane Doe.

Jose Efrain Martinez-Aguilar, aka Carlos Oreana Benitez, 48, a native and citizen of Honduras living in the United States illegally, was charged with illegal re-entry after having been convicted of an aggravated felony involving the trafficking of controlled substances. Arturo Leal-Calderone, 36, a native and citizen of Mexico also living in the United States illegally, was charged with illegal re-entry.

Of the 63 arrested, all individuals had prior criminal convictions, including: criminal sexual conduct against a minor; larceny; bribing a public official; manufacture, delivery and possession of controlled substances including heroin, cocaine and marijuana; and, weapons offenses.

Lina Sun, 54, and Chenglun Ma, 57, pleaded guilty to racketeering influenced and corrupt organizations (RICO) conspiracy charges before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Giblin.

Trevion Lechay Ethridge, of Newton, Texas, pleaded guilty to enticing a minor to record child pornography.

Glenn Bailey, 56, is alleged to have knowingly possessed videos and images of child pornography, including images which depict prepubescent minors and minors who have not attained 12 years of age. The content was then allegedly shipped and transported in interstate or foreign commerce by means of a computer. If convicted, he faces a maximum total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both.