News Releases and Statements

On June 1, four arrest warrants and eight search and seizure warrants were carried out in the cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro by Brazilian authorities, while one arrest warrant for a U.S.-based TCO member was simultaneously executed in Orlando, Florida by HSI Miami and HSI Orlando as part of Operation Iron Tire.

During the multi-year probe, dubbed “Operation Tragic Blow,” law enforcement seized multiple kilograms of heroin and cocaine, including a 14-kilogram cocaine seizure in Chicago’s Belmont Cragin neighborhood and a two-kilogram heroin seizure in a high-rise apartment building in Chicago’s Buena Park neighborhood. 

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeals court’s ruling May 24, 2021, allowing the illegal reentry of a defendant in a case that could drastically change prosecutions in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.

Kais Mohammad, a.k.a. “Superman29,” 37, of Yorba Linda, was sentenced in U.S. District Court, the result of an investigation by HSI Los Angeles, IRS Criminal Investigation and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Jorge Armando Lopez-Espinoza, 42, of Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Rosemary Marquez. Lopez-Esponza previously pleaded guilty Nov. 25, 2020.

The current extension includes guidance for employees hired on or after Jun. 1, 2021, and work exclusively in a remote setting due to COVID-19-related precautions. Those employees are temporarily exempt from the physical inspection requirements associated with the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) until they undertake non-remote employment on a regular, consistent, or predictable basis, or the extension of the flexibilities related to such requirements is terminated, whichever is earlier.

The return of the lintels to Thailand marks the culmination of a three-year probe by HSI Bangkok, HSI San Francisco, and subsequent prosecution by the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Calif., that resulted in the City of San Francisco’s forfeiture of the sacred artifacts that had been on exhibit at the city’s Asian Art Museum.

A Portland man was sentenced to federal prison May 23, after being convicted at trial in October for illegally possessing a stolen firearm as a convicted felon. Desmond Boris Washington, 35, was sentenced to four years in federal prison and three years supervised release.

A 31-year-old ‘dark web’ heroin dealer was sentenced today in U.S. District Court here to five years in prison, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Zachary Madding of Mill Creek, was arrested at a long-stay hotel in Mukilteo, after a horrific assault on his estranged girlfriend.

Tsvetan Kanev, 49, of Sofia, Bulgaria, pleaded guilty to violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act in March 2021.

Leon B. Hensley, 40, formerly of Clarksville and currently living in Lake Whales, Florida, was arrested this morning near his home in Florida. He will appear before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Tampa, Florida, later today.

The six defendants were charged by criminal complaint in April with attempting and conspiring to manufacture, distribute and dispense controlled substances using cryptocurrencies via the dark web. The group was allegedly orchestrating millions of dollars of online drug sales.

Jonathan Tai, 36, of Kurtistown was arrested at his home Friday, following the execution of a search warrant at that location.

Justin Hansing, 36, of Mesa, was arrested by HSI special agents and MPD officers, May 13 based on a referral from the HSI Pretoria office who detected explicit sexual conversations traced to Hansing’s residence.

Winston E. Gray, 31, was sentenced to four years in federal prison and three years’ supervised release.

Anthony Martinez, 40, of La Habra, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald. Martinez pleaded guilty on January 15, to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

According to an April 2021, criminal complaint, law enforcement officials opened an investigation into Kenneth Swartz, 63, of Eddyville, Kentucky, after receiving a complaint alleging that he attempted to photograph a minor while shopping at a local store in May 2020.

The arrests, conducted Friday and continuing over the weekend, were led by the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the Neshoba County Sheriff’s office, the Philadelphia Police Department, the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration following a multi-year investigation in collaboration with Homeland Security Investigations New Orleans.

Jerome Evard, 32, of Phoenix was arrested by HSI special agents April 26, based on a referral from the HSI Ottawa office who detected explicit sexual conversations in a parent control application downloaded on two smart phones. Following the tip of an additional alleged child predator, HSI special agents executed a search warrant April 29, which subsequently lead to the arrest of Jarrod Harrington, 32, of Mesa, Arizona, and the discovery of another child victim.

Sean David Sigler, 56, of Burbank, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Kronstadt, who described Sigler’s conduct as “inexcusable,” and further said, “Ruining the lives of minors is unspeakable.”

Sarfraz Yousuf, 43, of Miramar, Florida, was taken into federal custody this morning. Also arrested today was Marc Chavez, 53, of Trabuco Canyon.

Jose Mardoqueo Ortiz Morales, 59, a former member of an elite Guatemalan army unit known as the Kaibiles, is accused of taking part in the massacre in which Guatemalan special forces executed 200 unarmed villagers, including women and children.

Aron Bernard Griffin, 49, was arrested without incident. On Friday, he appeared before a U.S. federal court judge who charged him with smuggling undocumented noncitizens.

HSI worked in cooperation with Hawaiʻi County Police to bust five men who intended to have sex with children, over the weekend. Nolan Okalani Tallett (46), Sonny Eugenio Puerto (29), Kanani Ikaika Perreir Yurong (31), Joseph Michael Powell (37), and Marshall Kawailani Baji (32) have been charged with electronic enticement of a child in the 1st degree.

George Harrison, 56, of Estill County, Kentucky, was found guilty of three counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, all charges contained in an August 2019 indictment.