News Releases and Statements

Ricardo Hinojosa, a resident of Roma, Texas, was sentenced Wednesday to 12 years and seven months in federal prison following his conviction for possession with intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana. This case was investigated by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Jesus Orta, 41, was sentenced to 110 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Janis Graham Jack. Orta must also serve a lifetime of supervised release after he completes his prison term. In handing down Orta's sentence, Jack noted his crime and his troubling history of employment, which placed him around children.

Christopher Daves, 26, of Albuquerque, was also sentenced to five years of supervised release after he completes his prison sentence; he also will be required to register as a sex offender.

A federal grand jury Tuesday indicted Derrick Elrod, 35, of Philadelphia, Pa. in connection with a bank fraud scheme to use stolen, personal identifying information to open bank accounts and fraudulently obtain cash, merchandise and services.

Mohanad Shareef Hammadi, 25, was sentenced Jan. 29 to life in federal prison. Waad Ramadan Alwan, 31, was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison, followed by a life term of supervised release. Both men had pleaded guilty to federal terrorism charges.

As part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) ongoing commitment to prioritizing the removal of criminal aliens and egregious immigration law violators, 51 convicted criminal aliens, immigration fugitives and immigration violators were arrested last week during a four-day operation in northern Illinois and northwest Indiana.

Three Colombian nationals were deported Monday by officers with ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). They were convicted of conspiracy to fraudulently attempt to export airplane engines used in F-5 fighter jets from the United States to Iran after an investigation by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

A south Texas man pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas.

A federal grand jury indicted Karen Kimble, aka Karen Kimble-Mamah and Karen Mamah, 38, of Owings Mills, Md., on charges of wire fraud, subscribing to a false tax return, aiding in the filing of a false tax return, aggravated identity theft and visa fraud.

Bo B. Burdick, 21, of Trementon, Utah, pled guilty last August. According to the plea agreement, Burdick began an online relationship with a 13-year-old Idaho girl on Facebook. He admitted to trading sexually explicit photos with the girl and travelling to Idaho to have sex with her.

Richard D. Hendricks, a former Connecticut middle school teacher, was sentenced today to 121 months in federal prison for child sexual exploitation offenses. Hendricks paid for and viewed live webcasts showing the sexual abuse of children overseas, and voyeuristically photographed and videotaped female students in his classroom.

Federal prosecutors filed criminal charges Monday against William McMahon, the CEO of an Orange County electronic components company who paid kickbacks for years to ensure contracts for his firm, and against Sean Volin, an official with Panasonic's American subsidiary who accepted the bribes.

Francis Ortiz Gonzalez was sentenced Monday to two years in federal prison for being a key member of an organization that distributed large quantities of Chinese-made, counterfeit pharmaceuticals across the United States.

James Galen Brown, 40, admitted that he used his cell phone and its texting functions to intentionally send and receive images and videos of child pornography. U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings ordered Brown to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons March 1.

A jewelry wholesaler has pleaded in federal court to forging the seal of a U.S. government federal agency. The guilty plea is the result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).

Two New Jersey men were arrested Wednesday in North Bergen, N.J., for distributing 9,600 pills of counterfeit Viagra. The counterfeit Viagra had a suggested retail price of $130,000.

Oscar Orlando Amador Centeno, a Honduran national residing in Randallstown, Md. wanted in his native country for homicide with a machete and robbery, was deported earlier today by officers with ICE's Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO).

ICE's Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) efforts led to a record number of aliens being federally prosecuted in south Texas in fiscal year 2012, which ended Sept. 30. More than 2,400 criminal aliens were convicted for illegally re-entering the United States after a previous deportation.

Hector Vargas-Valero, a Dominican Republic man wanted in connection with four murders who resided unlawfully in the Inwood section of Manhattan, was deported earlier today and turned over to Dominican Republic authorities by officers with ICE's Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO).

Matthew M. Hansen, 39, of Winfield, Mo., was indicted on eight felony counts of attempting to produce child pornography, and one felony count of possessing child pornography. The indictment alleges the crimes were committed between 2007 and 2012.

David Coleman Headley, 52, pleaded guilty in March 2010 to all 12 counts that were brought against him following his arrest in October 2009.

A Bay Area man, Mike Gama, faces at least 10 years in prison after being found guilty Tuesday by a federal jury on charges stemming from his involvement in a scheme to import more than a kilogram of heroin into the United States from Mexico concealed inside a wooden tortilla press.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) seized more than $100,000 of counterfeit cosmetics, designer handbags and electronics after executing a search warrant at a Conway home Jan. 16.

Sagarsen Haldar, aka Gopal Hari Das, a religious leader from India who founded a local Hindu temple, was sentenced Tuesday to more than three years in prison in connection with a religious visa fraud scheme that operated in India and Wisconsin.

Teofanes Salas-Campos, 40, Mission, Texas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Randy Crane to 135 months in prison. He pleaded guilty Sept. 17, 2012 that he intended to have sex with a minor for money. After he completes his prison term, Salas-Campos will also serve a five year term of supervised release, and will be required to register as a sex offender.