News Releases and Statements

On Friday, HSI special agents arrested Naara Elisa Cruz-Vilar, 28, of San Juan, for transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual conduct. According to the criminal complaint, Cruz-Vilar, a special education teacher at a local school, transported a 15-year-old minor student to her residence with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with him.

ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending Feb. 27, 2015

Melquiades Garcia Gonzalez, 29, of Kent, was arrested May 20, 2014, when he attempted to deliver 3 kilograms of heroin to undercover officers in the parking lot of a Home Depot in Kent. When investigators moved in to make an arrest, Garcia Gonzalez fled in his vehicle at a high rate of speed, court records state.

Special agents, investigators and attorneys gathered in Mexico City for a three-day law enforcement symposium to collaborate and share information on current money laundering trends. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Attaché Office in Mexico City and the Department of State’s (DOS) Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) hosted the symposium that ended Thursday.

Joey Doolittle used his brief time on this earth living with courage, kindness and in service to others. Joey died at the age of nine years old from cancer, but not before creating his legacy ― Joey’s Toy Box (JTB).

Carmelo Rojas-Perez, 31, born in Toluca, Mexico, was living in Pittsburgh when he initially received a “test” package from his hometown that contained a framed religious picture but no drugs. He was instructed by co-conspirators to ensure there were no indications that law enforcement had intercepted the package. After assuring himself the package had not been tampered with, he stored it in his residence.

ICE officers transferred Angel Daniel Vasquez-Aleman to the custody of Mexican law enforcement authorities at the border crossing in Hidalgo, Texas, Feb. 26.

Marco Antonio Yudico-Vega, 43, was arrested Feb. 24 by agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Office of Border Patrol (OBP) who were investigating alien smuggling activity in the area. About noon, Yudico-Vega crossed legally into El Paso from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, and proceeded to a motel in the 4100 block of Alameda Avenue.

Terry Lee Clark, 48, was sentenced Feb. 26 to eight years, one month in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo. Clark’s prison sentence will be immediately followed by a life term of supervised release and registration as a sex offender. Clark pleaded guilty Oct. 31, 2014.

The indictments result from the close collaboration between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Mexico City Attaché Office, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Mexican Office of the Attorney General of the Republic (PGR).

Ambassador Mamet signed a proclamation memorializing the partnership between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Southern Cone of the Americas Attaché Office and the AFIP. The establishment of the TTU will enhance the detection of trade-based money laundering and commercial fraud violations.

Pedro Dubon-Interiano was arrested Nov. 13, 2014, after the U.S. Marshals Service alerted ERO Newark that he was being sought by Interpol on extortion charges.

According to court documents, on Nov. 15, 2013, law enforcement agents executed a federal search warrant at the residence of John Dewey Todd, 61, of Fernandina Beach, during which they recovered several electronic devices. In an interview with agents, Todd admitted to having child pornography on his computers.

Nineteen companies face state penalties of $2,500 each, for soliciting intrastate moves without the required New Jersey license.

“This case illustrates HSI’s unyielding commitment in working with our world-wide law enforcement partners to protect our children,” said Peter T. Edge, HSI executive associate director. “When it comes to protecting the most vulnerable among us, we will leave no stone unturned.”

During the course of two separate investigations, HSI New York seized two stolen cultural treasures from Christie’s auction house in New York. The TPC contacted HSI Rome to help locate a Lucanian red-figured bell krater (circa 420-400 B.C.) and other stolen artifacts. That tip led HSI New York special agents to Christie’s where they seized the stolen krater in July 2013.

Federal agents continue to investigate Tuesday morning’s discovery of a sophisticated cross-border drug tunnel uncovered overnight in Naco, following a traffic stop by local police that yielded more than two tons of marijuana.

Jason Ryan Bickham, 32, from Orange, Texas, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison Feb. 24 by U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield. Bickham pleaded guilty to the charges Sept. 17, 2014 after being indicted by a federal grand jury June 4.

Cory Cooke, 45, of Newark, pleaded guilty on Nov. 21, 2014, in federal court to one count of producing false identification documents.

Jamie Balam, aka Tweety, was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2012 on allegations he conspired to conduct the affairs of MS-13 through a pattern of racketeering activity that included murder, attempted murder, and other acts of violence.

Tsutomu Shirosaki, 67, was convicted in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in February 1998 of assault with intent to murder, attempted destruction of buildings, attempted murder of internationally protected persons and violent attack on official premises of internationally protected persons.

Joel D. Hilton, 42, of Muncie, Indiana, was sentenced to 50 years in federal prison for producing and distributing child pornography. Hilton was arrested less than six hours after authorities learned of his identity, saving many more potential victims. Federal sentencing guidelines allow for stiffer penalties for crimes involving children younger than 14.

Anthony Arn, 44, of Coralville, Iowa, was sentenced to 45 months in prison on one count of possessing child pornography.

Sherin Thawer, 45, of Coppell, Texas, was arrested by HSI special agents at her residence. She made her initial appearance on Friday in federal court, and was later released under supervision. The charges are outlined in a multi-count federal indictment, which was returned by a grand jury and unsealed Friday.