News Releases and Statements

Hector Coria-Gonzalez, 46, was taken into custody at his Davis residence early Friday morning by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers. He is being held without bond at the Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center while his case undergoes review by the immigration court.

Blaine K. Nipp, 37, of Vancouver, Washington, was arrested in January 2014 after investigators tied Nipp to a username distributing illicit images through an overseas photo sharing website, according to court documents. A search of Nipp’s electronic devices turned up photos of him abusing a 10-year-old girl.

Former Illinois State Rep. Keith Farnham, 67, of Elgin, Illinois, was also ordered to pay a $30,000 fine and must report to prison May 19. He will remain on a bond that restricts him to his home and requires around-the-clock electronic monitoring.

Kenneth Simon Brzoznowski, from Midland Texas, was also ordered to be placed under supervised release for 10 years after he completes his federal prison term. On Oct. 17, 2014, Brzoznowski pleaded guilty to using a cell phone to entice a minor female to engage in sexual activity.

ICE's Director, Sarah R. Saldaña, testified March 19 before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform at a hearing titled, “A Review of the Department of Homeland Security’s Policies and Procedures for the Apprehension, Detention, and Release of Non-Citizens Unlawfully Present in the United States – Part II.

Justin Kinney, 26, of Newark, was indicted by a federal grand jury on two counts of producing child pornography. Kinney was previously arrested and charged by federal complaint on April 20, 2014, and is currently in state custody on related charges.

It wasn’t until Bernando Ruiz, who was in the process of writing and directing a film that would highlight the realities and consequences of drug trafficking along the United States – Mexico border, contacted Hagelsieb and began to interview him that he began to fully reflect on the significance of his job. As Hagelsieb began to share his personal experiences, he realized that the work he does was far from normal, and inherently presented challenges that most Americans will never be faced with.

Keith L. Countess, 55, of Lawrence, Kansas, and five others were charged via a federal indictment alleging they were part of a scheme to convert more than $13 million in payroll checks into cash to pay crews of undocumented workers installing drywall in the Kansas City metro area.

Steven Sadler, 40, of Bellevue, pleaded guilty last May to conspiracy to distribute illegal drugs, following an investigation by the Seattle-Tacoma Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST Seattle), including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. According to investigators, Sadler was one of the top-ranked sellers on the site.

Pavel Semenovich Flider, 65, of San Rafael, and his company, Trident International Corporation, LLC, were indicted by a federal grand jury March 5 for smuggling goods; conspiracy to commit international money laundering; and money laundering. The case is the result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the FBI.

Clemente Chavez-Cruz, 68, and Manuel Orpinela-Servin, 47, were handed over to Mexican law enforcement officials at El Paso’s Stanton Street Bridge Port of Entry.

Those arrested include: Rubén Darío Sosa, Luis Manuel Martínez Castillo, Franklin Sánchez García, Rolfi Ismael Ventura, Manuel Emilio Martínez, Idalia Luciano Ferrera and Aniberca Castro Peña.

"Like Secretary Johnson, I am determined to do what we can to improve and reform our immigration system within the confines of existing law," said ICE Director Sarah R. Saldaña. "Today’s announcement is an example of this, and I believe it will enhance public safety and public confidence in our enforcement and administration of the immigration laws."

Tony Lasiter, 33, of Duneweg, was sentenced to 23 years and 10 months in federal prison for one count of sexually exploiting a child. Lasiter previously pleaded guilty to the charges Sept. 4, 2014.

Farhan Ali Abu Siam, 42, and Mohammed Abuawada, 26, both of Philadelphia, were charged with conspiracy to commit fraud against the USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as the federal food stamp program.

Gabriel Toro, 31, pleaded guilty to one count of online enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual conduct.

Rickie Sitler, age 57, allegedly persuaded and induced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing images. The indictment alleges that Sitler committed the crime between November 2014 and Dec. 20, 2014.

The indictment alleges that between August 2013 and January 2015, Robert Ferraro, 44, persuaded and induced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing images.

Shilan Zhao, 51, of Newcastle, and her ex-husband Jianjun Qiao, 51, are charged in a federal grand jury indictment unsealed Tuesday with conspiracy to commit immigration fraud and international transport of stolen funds, as well as conspiracy to commit money laundering. Additionally, Zhao is charged with one count of immigration fraud.

In August 2014, Petr Vana, 38, was convicted federally of bank fraud in Chicago. On Dec. 5 2014, the District Court in Uherske Hradiste issued a warrant for his arrest on charges of breaking and entering, theft, larceny and violation of domestic freedom. On Dec. 29 2014, ICE issued a final order of removal against Vana as an aggravated felon.

Ramiro Varela-Garcia, 38, a Mexican national who was living in Cambridge, Wisconsin, was sentenced March 16 by U.S. District Judge William Conley to 42 months in federal prison for illegally re-entering the United States after having been deported, which is a felony. Varela-Garcia pleaded guilty to this charge Dec. 19, 2014.

Raul Oropeza Lopez, 47, and Ana Maria Oropeza, 41, both of Delano, were arrested Tuesday. They are named in a 10-count indictment accusing them of mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Both defendants have been released on bond. Their next court appearance is scheduled for May 4.

John Dale Clark, 61, of Newton, was sentenced March 17 to 180 months in federal prison for sexually exploiting a child by U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield. Clark was indicted by a federal grand jury Sept. 4, 2013, and pleaded guilty Oct. 28, 2014.

On Dec. 19, 2014, a federal grand jury returned a three-count sealed indictment charging Tian with importing a controlled substance and manufacturing a controlled substance knowing it would be unlawfully imported into the United States from China. This indictment was unsealed following Tian’s arrest.

More than 60 Iraqi cultural treasures illegally smuggled into the United States were returned to the Republic of Iraq Monday, following five separate investigations led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The objects were seized at the culmination of investigations led by HSI offices in New York; Baltimore, Maryland; Austin, Texas; and New Haven, Connecticut. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Southern District of New York U.S. Attorney’s Office assisted in two of the investigations.