News Releases and Statements

In fiscal year 2021, HSI human trafficking arrests across the country increased to 2,360 from 1,746 in the previous year, with 728 victims identified and assisted.

The deportation officers transferred custody of Victor Ernesto Sanchez-Rueda, 51, to Mexican authorities at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, Jan. 7.

In fiscal year 2021, HSI human trafficking arrests across the country increased to 2,360 from 1,746 in the previous year, with 728 victims identified and assisted.

In fiscal year 2021, HSI human trafficking arrests across the country increased to 2,360 from 1,746 in the previous year, with 728 victims identified and assisted. As part of that effort, HSI KC has special agents throughout Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska who are dedicated to the eradication of this egregious crime.

Christopher Bernard Brown, 39, was sentenced Jan. 5 in the Southern District of Texas on two counts of interference with commerce by threats or violence and ordered to serve 90 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. He must also pay restitution.

In recognition of this important topic, the DHS's Blue Campaign hosts Wear Blue Day to encourage participants to dress in blue attire and post photos on social media using the hashtag #WearBlueDay, to show support to trafficking victims, raise awareness and provide prevention information about this horrendous crime.

In a complaint filed in August 2020 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, the government alleged that Thu Phan Dinh, Tran Khanh and Nguyen Duy Toan engaged in a wire fraud scheme designed to profit from the COVID-19 pandemic. The defendants operated more than 300 websites that fraudulently purported to sell products in the United States that became scarce during the pandemic, including hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes.

Omar Rivas-Saenz, 31, of Denver, was sentenced to over 14 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin.

ICE personnel participating in the pilot program received training on the proper use of the devices, adherence to the ICE Directive outlining the pilot program, legal considerations, and privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties safeguards, as well as training on data uploading, storage, retention, and tagging. The body worn camera will be mounted on an officer’s or agent’s outerwear (e.g., vest, shirt, or helmet).

The HSI-led initiative, dubbed Operation Safety Claus, was supported by CBP and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, with support from the U.S. FDA Office of Criminal Investigations. The coordinated federal law enforcement operation focused on interrupting counterfeit efforts in the New Orleans metro area during the holiday shopping season. In total, the seized counterfeit items had a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price of $1,012,942.

Astro Rey De Leon, 34, of McAllen, was convicted in federal court. During that hearing, he admitted to possessing child pornography with the intent to sell it on the internet

The individuals in question were part of Neo-Nazi cells that were planning attacks against public areas, such as schools, as well as hate crimes against Jewish and black civilians. Operation Bergón was initiated in May 2021 due to criminal neo-Nazi groups using U.S.-based online platforms to call for violence against Jewish and black civilians.

Jason Coleman, 40, and Kimberly Coleman, 38, of Mesa, Arizona, made their initial appearance in federal court recently on a 62-count indictment charging them with Conspiracy, Bank Fraud, Wire Fraud, and Transactional Money Laundering. A federal grand jury previously indicted the Colemans and seven other individuals in connection with a fraudulent scheme to obtain approximately $23 million in PPP loans.

Hamza Abbas, 29, Khalid Abbas, 55, Abdul Fatani, 55, all of Richmond; and Syed Ali, 53, of Sugar Land, are set to make their initial appearances Dec. 16 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew M. Edison.

This extension will continue to apply the guidance previously issued for employees hired on or after April 1, 2021, and work exclusively in a remote setting due to COVID-19-related precautions.

Jose Rafael Vasquez, 64, of Dallas, Texas, was sentenced Dec. 15 by U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana to 63 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by a three-year term of supervised release.

Law enforcement arrested Chantel Deshay Collins, 28, Houston, and Asia Monae Hailey, 21, Galveston, this morning. They are expected to appear for an initial appearance tomorrow before U.S. Magistrate Andrew Edison. Michael Gonzalez, 21, Houston, is currently in the Harris County (Texas) jail on other charges and is expected to be transferred to federal court to answer these charges by the end of the week.

The operation, which ran from April 7 – Sept. 30, targeted violent fugitives including documented gang members and other firearms-related offenders in Corpus Christi and surrounding areas.

A Philippine man was sentenced Monday in federal court to three years in prison for possession of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and false swearing in immigration matters.

Breanna Cierra Sluder, 27, previously pleaded guilty to one count of producing child pornography. Documents on file with the court show that a federal search warrant was executed in January 2020 at Sluder’s home after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children provided information to the KPD-ICAC about images of child pornography being produced in Knoxville.

Representatives from ICE's HRVWCC traveled to El Salvador this week to remember the victims of the largest single massacre of civilians in modern Latin American history and commemorate the Dec. 10 United Nations Human Rights Day.

According to court documents and evidence presented during trial, Joshua James Duggar, 33, of Springdale, Ark., repeatedly downloaded and viewed images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, including images of prepubescent children and depictions of sadistic abuse.

NAVCENT seized the weapons from two flagless vessels in the Arabian Sea on Nov. 25, 2019, and Feb. 9, 2020, respectively. The weapons included 171 guided anti-tank missiles, eight surface-to-air missiles, land attack cruise missile components, anti-ship cruise missile components, thermal weapons optics and other components for missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.

According to court documents, on Aug. 25, Eduardo Lara Jr., 24, pleaded guilty to enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity. By pleading guilty, Lara admitted that he engaged in sexual activity with a 13-year-old on at least two occasions in February 2020 and March 2020 in El Paso.

Jose Alfredo Fernandez-Martinez, 38, of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, was sentenced Dec. 8 in federal court to 360 months in federal prison. He was also ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release and comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet.