News Releases and Statements

Courtney Cal Gardenier, 25, from Scottsdale, Ariz., was sentenced to 24 months in prison and three years of supervised release by Chief U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen.

Four Mexican nationals were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a large human smuggling case that resulted in the discovery of more than 80 illegal aliens in a Houston residence.

Nicolas Gomez-Rua of Atlantic City, N.J., and Medellin, Colombia, admitted his role in aiding and assisting the preparation of false income tax returns, illegal use of Social Security numbers and unlawfully obtaining U.S. citizenship.

Patrick Mergen of Sewell, N.J., was sentenced to 25 years in prison for manufacturing child pornography and an additional 10 years on the possession of child pornography charge, both to run concurrently.

ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) seized more than $636,000 Tuesday after intercepting a vehicle on I-10 near Mobile en route from Atlanta to Laredo, Texas connected to a federal money laundering investigation.

Booker T. Vanderhorst of Charleston, S.C., made his initial appearance in federal court Thursday after he was arrested by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents on child sex trafficking charges. Between July and October 2012, Vanderhorst prostituted a minor female he knew to be under the age of 18.

A suburban Twin Cities man, Napoleon Long, was indicted in federal court Wednesday for transporting a woman across state lines for the purpose of prostitution in October 2011.

Two men were arrested Wednesday on state charges of felony murder, human smuggling, and engaging in organized criminal activity. On Jan. 20, 2012, a group of illegal aliens were hiding inside an air dam compartment of a tractor when one of the females fell from the moving vehicle that was traveling on Interstate Highway 35 in Kyle, Texas.

Earl Seth David ran a scheme in which he and his co-conspirators applied for legal status for tens of thousands of illegal aliens based on phony claims that they had been sponsored for employment by U.S. employers.

Pablo Toro-Matos, of Yauco, was arrested by HSI special agents after they learned from the Puerto Rico Police Department's Sexual Crimes Division that Toro-Matos allegedly used his vehicle to transport an 11-year-old girl to a motel where he sexually assaulted her.

The head of College Prep Academy in Duluth and other school officials have been indicted on charges of conspiring to bring illegal aliens into the country and issuing them fraudulent immigration documents following an investigation by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the FBI.

A former National Football League player, Samuel George Hurd III, 27, pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to a superseding indictment charging conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

In addition to his prison term, Ferrer was sentenced to serve three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution.

Thirty-four individuals and 23 entities have been indicted and accused of operating an illegal sports bookmaking business, known since 2003 as Legendz Sports, that solicited more than $1 billion in illegal bets.

A jury found Thomas Monroe Lee guilty Wednesday of using the Internet to try to persuade, induce and entice a minor to engage in sexual activity. On June 14, law enforcement officers posed as a 14-year-old boy and responded to an advertisement that appeared in the Casual Encounters section of the Panama City Beach/Laguna Beach Craigslist page.

Javier Guerrero committed racketeering offenses, murdered two men, and assaulted a detention guard.

Neri Cristobal Rodriguez-Reina, 31, was turned over to Mexican federal police by ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations.

The owner of Little Lake Driving Academy in Aurora, Colo., and the driving academy's clerk, were arraigned in U.S. District Court Wednesday on charges of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, Social Security fraud and bribery.

Michael Brandan Griffith pleaded guilty Tuesday to possessing child pornography.

Trident is an environmental services group that provides a wide range of facilities.

Brandon Lee Stockburger was sentenced Monday in federal court to nine and a half years in prison for receiving and possessing child pornography.

During the operation, HSI special agents and partner law enforcement officers targeted five retailers of counterfeit and pirated goods.

At the time of his death, he was awaiting removal from the United States.

Wei Qin, 23, of Philadelphia, was charged with one count each of transportation and possession of child pornography. If convicted, Qin faces up to 30 years in federal prison.

Derek M. Schwartzrock, 34, a northeast heights Christian church minister, received and possessed visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, according to a criminal complaint.