News Releases and Statements

Oscar Martinez Hernandez, aka Cali, a 39-year-old Puerto Rican fugitive wanted by the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD), the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the FBI for murder and drug trafficking, was extradited to Puerto Rico Tuesday from Venezuela. ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) office in Miami provided...

U.S. officials repatriated "Le Marche aux Poissons" (The Fish Market), a monotype by Camille Pissarro, to French Ambassador Francois Delattre.

Andrew Hansen, 34, was arrested Jan. 20, after ICE HSI special agents executed two federal search warrants at his home in the 900 block of Mesa Hills Drive and another residence in the 1000 block of Mesa Hills Drive.

Twelve defendants who attempted to smuggle $3.1 million in U.S. currency concealed in luggage into Mexico have been sentenced to federal prison. On Sept. 26, 2010, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents stopped and searched a southbound commercial passenger bus at Hidalgo, Texas.

Atrium Companies, the owner of Houston-based Champion Window, and Advanced Containment Systems Inc. (ACSI), have agreed to adhere to revised immigration compliance programs and to each pay $2 million as forfeited funds to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

James L. Scott of West Decatur, Pa., was charged Tuesday with possession of child pornography. The charge stems from an investigation ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Scott knowingly possessed digital images and videos of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

Mark Kahl of Perry Point, Md., was sentenced to 15 years in prison for receiving child pornography. Kahl had been convicted in Calvert County, Md. in 1997 of sexual abuse of young boys, and had been paroled in January 2011. These charges stem from an investigation by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Maryland Department of Public...

In an effort to bolster international partnerships and information sharing on intellectual property crime, the European Police Office (Europol) joined the ICE Homeland Security Investigations-led National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) to become the center's 20th partner agency.

Robert Vincent Peace, 45, of Lake Forest, Calif., is charged with three felony counts of lewd acts on a child under 14; six felony counts of lewd acts on a child; three felony counts of contacting a child with the intent to commit lewd acts on a child; two felony counts of using a minor for sex acts; and one felony count each of using a minor for distribution of obscene material and possession and control of child pornography with a sentencing enhancement allegation for substantial sexual conduct with a child.

A Canadian man, Azariah Wilson, pleaded guilty Tuesday to smuggling in 56 ingested pellets more than 800 grams of cocaine into the United States from the Republic of Costa Rica. The case is being investigated by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

The ringleader of an alien smuggling organization faces life in prison after five people were killed during a head-on collision in 2004.

Special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) arrested Ivan Pravilov, 49, a hockey coach from the Ukraine, on charges of traveling in interstate commerce for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with a minor.

Stephen Siktberg, 32, pleaded guilty to the charges April 4, 2011. According to court documents, Siktberg, who provided private music instruction to both children and adults, downloaded child pornography from the Internet using a peer-to-peer file-sharing program, and saved it on his computer and on CDs.

As part of his plea agreement, Paul Henry Brown, 70, of Easton, Md., must register as a sex offender in the place where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

ICE's Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers (IMAGE) program helps employers detect the use of fraudulent identity documents, and subsequently, reduce unauthorized employment. This year, IMAGE will host a series of forums across the country. Employers interested in learning more about the program are invited to attend.

A Mexican woman was sentenced to 235 months in prison Monday for her involvement in trafficking methamphetamine into the U.S. from Mexico.

James Damian Newsom, 52, of Groves, Texas, pleaded guilty on July 12, 2011, to possessing child pornography and was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison Jan. 20 by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone.

Special Agent Rod Khattabi, a veteran special agent assigned to ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New Haven was honored today by U.S. Attorney David B. Fein, District of Connecticut, in recognition of his leadership to protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.

Yong Hyon Kim pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and making false statements to federal agents, following an investigation by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Kim admitted he recruited the general manager of his business to enter into a fraudulent marriage with Kim's girlfriend so that she could remain...

Following an investigation and audit of Form I-9 documents by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Germantown Police Department, El Rancho Grande in Germantown, Ohio, has been fined more than $20,000 for failing to comply with employment eligibility verification requirements.

Donald Bartling has been charged with possession and distribution of child pornography following an investigation by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). According to the criminal complaint, on Oct. 25 ICE HSI agents downloaded two videos containing child pornography from a program associated with Bartling's IP address.

The owner and manager of a San Diego-area car wash pleaded guilty Thursday to knowingly hiring illegal aliens following a seven-month investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

A human smuggling ring was underway in Austin, Texas. The victims were illegal aliens, taken from their home country without their consent. Human smugglers were holding them ransom until family members paid exorbitant smuggling fees.

A Mexican national in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) passed away Tuesday evening at Desert Springs Hospital just hours after he was turned over to ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD).