News Releases and Statements

Joshua P. Becker, 33, of Portland, Ore., pleaded guilty in May. He and his co-conspirators operated AandJ Distribution, which distributed brands of synthetic marijuana or 'spice' as it is commonly known.

Evan Richards, 22, of Garland, Texas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Barbara M. G. Lynn after pleading guilty earlier this year to an Information charging one count of transporting and shipping child pornography.

Idelfonso Garcia-Benitez, from Michoacan, Mexico, was indicted on one count of conspiring to transport aliens, 14 counts of transporting aliens and one count of illegal re-entry after deportation. He pleaded guilty Aug. 22 to all counts as charged without a written plea agreement.

Rigel Colon-Cruzado, 54, was arrested May 20 after an HSI investigation revealed the physical education teacher engaged in sexually explicit conversations with one of his students, a 12-year-old female.

Gregory Boone, 29, and Randy Coleman Jr., 33, were arrested following a joint investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Pittston Police Department and the Pennsylvania State Police.

Eliezer Lazo, 40, Joel Martinez-Hernandez, 37, and Yilian Hernandez, 30, allegedly conspired to bring certain aliens into the United States. They are also accused of kidnapping and extortion.

Dylan Jordan, 22, of Madison, Wis., is charged with traveling in foreign commerce for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct, and with traveling in foreign commerce and engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.

Alberto Martinez Jr., 49, was charged in federal court Monday with producing and possessing child pornography, and possessing methamphetamine. Martinez's detention hearing is set for Dec. 4.

Lawrence H. Dorman, aka "Howie, " 42, engaged in a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old female. Throughout the course of the relationship, Dorman produced videos of himself engaged in sexual acts with the minor.

The Honorable Mexican Attorney General Jesus Murillo Karam attended the event and provided opening remarks on the importance of collaboration in this initiative.

Vincent Tyler Jimenez, 32, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey who took into consideration testimony from the government and the victims in the case.

Doru Gabriel Trifu, 29, was sentenced to 96 months in prison by Senior U.S. District Judge John Rainey to be followed by three years supervised release. Trifu was further ordered to pay $562,240 in restitution.

Salvadoran law enforcement authorities issued an arrest warrant in November 2010 for Oscar Giovanni Castro, 32. He is wanted in El Salvador for allegedly murdering an individual Dec. 9, 2004. They also issued an arrest warrant in December 2009 for Jose Mario Solis, 28. He is wanted in El Salvador for allegedly raping a child or disabled person.

Steven Ray Hemenway, 47, admitted to possessing child pornography when investigators searched his home in February. HSI special agents began their probe after Canadian officials busted a Toronto man for distributing child pornography by email.

The event was attended by law enforcement and government agency partners, non-governmental organizations and others, including U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials, special agents, attorneys, historians and analysts who have supported the mission.

The 706 domain names seized were set up to dupe consumers into unknowingly buying counterfeit goods as part of the holiday shopping season. The operations were coordinated by the HSI-led National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) in Washington, D.C.

Tomas Yarrington Ruvalcaba, 56, the former governor of the State of Tamaulipas, Mexico, and Fernando Alejandro Cano Martinez, 57, the owner of a Mexican construction firm, are indicted on RICO charges.

Deluvino Elias Salazar's plea agreement requires the imposition of a 135-month prison sentence.

Ivan Tapia-Cacique, 40, was turned over the Mexican law enforcement officials by ERO officers at the San Ysidro, Calif., border crossing after being transported under escort from Salt Lake City.

Hector Javier Villarreal Hernandez, 42, former Secretary of Finance for the Mexican State of Coahuila, and Jorge Juan Torres Lopez, 59, former Interim Governor and Secretary of Finance for Coahuila, charged with conspiring to launder monetary instruments and bank fraud.

Hakeem Omar, 31, of Atlanta, was also stripped of his fraudulently obtained U.S. citizenship. He will serve three years of supervised release following his prison term and will be turned over to a duly-authorized immigration official for appropriate removal proceedings.

Francisco Javier Astorga-Velarde, 23, and Jose Pedro Soto-Valdez, 24, were both sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Susan R. Bolton to 12 years in prison. Their co-defendant, Noel Galindez-Marmolejo, 33, was sentenced to 10 years.

Ulises Sandoval, 26, who is in custody, faces a statutory sentence of not less than 15 or more than 30 years in federal prison on the production count, and a statutory maximum of 20 years in federal prison on the possession count.

Juan Carlos Venegas, 21, a U.S. permanent resident who lived in Crane, Texas, was also sentenced to 20 years of supervised release. ICE has placed an immigration detainer on Venegas. After he completes his sentence, Venegas will be turned over to ICE custody and placed in removal proceedings.

These Fugitive Operations Teams represent an integral part of the comprehensive multi-year plan launched by the Department of Homeland Security to secure America's borders and reduce illegal migration.