News Releases and Statements

Henry Estrella-Cordova, 31, was arrested May 15 in Silver Spring, Md.

Fazliddin Kurbanov, an Uzbek national living in Boise, was arrested Thursday and now faces federal terrorism charges in Utah and Idaho as a result of an investigation by the FBI's JTTF, including ICE's HSI.

According to the indictment, the defendants sought to defraud the United States by conducting financial transactions in a manner that would conceal their true nature.

HSI's Trade Transparency Unit, in coordination with HSI Assistant Attache Guayaquil, Ecuador, successfully transitioned Ecuadorian Customs May 7-9 to the new Data Analysis and Research for Trade Transparency System World, an Internet-based platform hosted in a secure environment in the United States.

A Fresno-area Navy petty officer, Charles Ray Benavidez, has been indicted on federal criminal charges for sex trafficking of a minor and knowingly using a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography.

Timothy James Hensley, 38, of San Diego, appeared in court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Bernard G. Skomal. Hensley, who will be sentenced Aug. 12, faces up to 20 years in prison for each count and a maximum fine of $250,000.

Three Mexican men face federal hostage-taking charges following their arrest Tuesday at a West Valley human smuggling drop house discovered by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

A Jamaica man, Hubert Downer, was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison for murder in aid of racketeering. The victim, a drug courier, was kidnapped and dismembered in a bathtub.

The defendants face four counts of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance analogue; conspiracy to smuggle goods into the United States; conspiracy to sell and transport drug paraphernalia; and conspiracy to launder money.

David J. Stevens, the Salinas man alleged to be the "John Doe" child predator sought in a nationwide manhunt, made his initial appearance in federal court Thursday following his capture Wednesday, a little more than 24 hours after ICE's HSI issued a public appeal for leads in the case.

A consensual search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of 12 boxes containing more than 932 pounds of marijuana and the arrest of the van's two occupants.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) teamed up Wednesday to thwart an attempt by human smugglers to sneak Brazilian nationals into the United States. A CBP marine unit intercepted a 20-foot single engine vessel with five persons on board Wednesday near Thatch Cay.

Four Mexican men, who illegally entered the United States and possessed 40mm grenades and a grenade launcher, were sentenced Wednesday to between five and 10 years in federal prison for possessing destructive devices.

Yadira Mauricio Ybarra was sentenced Wednesday to 87 months in federal prison for her roles in a conspiracy to purchase machine guns and attempt to smuggle them into Mexico, and bank fraud.

"Federico ""Freddy"" Garcia Jr. defrauded people of $100,000, special agents seek more victims"

Tyrone Reid, a citizen of the island nation of Dominica who had been residing in Houston, was sentenced Wednesday to 14 years in federal prison following his conviction to a conspiracy involving numerous co-defendants who lied to federal firearms dealers during their purchase of firearms.

Richard D. Crisman, 28, was also ordered to pay a $15,000 fine, and he will be required to register as a sex offender after he completes his prison sentence.

Jean Claude Roy, aka Dredd the Don and Dreddy, 30, faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison for each of three counts on sex trafficking and a maximum of 10 years in prison for each of three counts of interstate transportation for prostitution.

Nicaraguan authorities expelled Lawrence S. Hartman, a U.S. citizen wanted in the United States on investment fraud and money laundering charges, on Wednesday. Hartman was subsequently turned over to U.S. authorities upon his arrival in Miami.

The nationwide manhunt for a "John Doe" suspected child pornographer ended a little more than 24 hours after ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) issued a public appeal for information about his identity and whereabouts. John Doe was arrested Wednesday afternoon after a tip from the public was called in to the ICE tip line.

Her mission: raise public awareness of law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty.

In their plea agreements, both defendants admitted they purchased the horns for export overseas.

The man was ordered removed from the United States by a federal immigration judge.

Authorities allege that the extensive operation spanned multiple communities in Massachusetts including: Bedford, Billerica, Medford, Reading, Wilmington and Woburn.

A central Florida man was sentenced Tuesday to the statutory maximum of 20 years in federal prison for receipt of child pornography and 25 years of supervised release. This sentence resulted from an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).