News Releases and Statements

On March 20, Jose Jesus Hernandez-Valle, 54, pleaded guilty to smuggling various calibers of firearms into Mexico.  

A federal judge sentenced Moises Moreno, 38, of Moreno Valley, to 200 months in prison March 20 for importing more than 36 kilograms of fentanyl from Mexico into the United States.

ICE ERO Newark apprehended two removable noncitizens, one having been convicted of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and the other convicted of felony endangering the welfare of a child (sexual conduct) during a nationwide enforcement effort from March 4 to March 13.

A federal judge sentenced Ramiro Helibuerto Cuenca-Campos, 27, of Cuenca Provincia, Azuay, Ecuador to 84 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.

Officers with ICE's ERO San Francisco apprehended eight removable noncitizens identified as having been convicted of attempted murder, murder second degree, domestic violence, rape by force, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, burglary, unlawful possession or use of a firearm, or drug distribution or trafficking who had been released from incarceration on parole or placed on probation into communities under supervision during a nation-wide enforcement effort from March 4 to March 13. 

This operation was implemented to address removable noncitizens identified as having been convicted of attempted murder, murder-second degree, domestic violence, rape by force, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, burglary, unlawful possession or use of a firearm, drug distribution or trafficking, or driving under the influence who had been released from incarceration on parole or placed on probation into communities under supervision.

Officers with ICE's ERO Salt Lake City apprehended 13 removable noncitizens identified as having been convicted of assault, arson, burglary, battery, felony lewdness, felony sexual coercion, conspiracy to commit a crime and cruelty to animals during a nationwide enforcement effort from March 4 to March 13.

Officers with ICE's ERO Denver apprehended four removable noncitizens identified as having been convicted of driving under the influence who had been released from incarceration on parole or placed on probation into communities under supervision during a nationwide enforcement effort from March 4 to March 13.

Officers with the ICE ERO Seattle office apprehended three removable noncitizens identified as having been convicted of domestic violence, sexual abuse, or driving under the influence, who had been released from incarceration on parole or placed on probation into communities under supervision during a nationwide enforcement effort from March 4 through March 13.

Officers with ICE's ERO apprehended 25 criminal noncitizens during a nationwide enforcement effort between March 4 and March 13.

Officials identified the noncitizens as having been convicted of crimes such as domestic violence, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, burglary, unlawful possession or use of a firearm, drug distribution or trafficking, or driving under the influence; or as those who were released from incarceration on parole or placed on community probation under supervision.

Officials flew Omar Martinez-Suarez, a 39-year-old unlawfully present Mexican national, from the Toledo Express Airport to the Valley International Airport in Harlingen, Texas on March 7. On the same day, ERO Harlingen escorted him via ground transportation to the border and turned him over to Mexican authorities.

Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Kansas City Taekuk Cho and U.S. Attorney Steven Russell announced that a federal judge found Servando V. Urias, 48, of Mexico, guilty of conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine.

Officers with ERO Boston’s Fugitive Operations Team arrested a 49-year-old unlawfully present Cape Verdean woman in Whitman on March 9. The woman is wanted in Cape Verde on multiple charges of forgery.

On March 8, a flight coordinated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Air Operations Unit flew Erick Gomez-Gomez, 33, of Guatemala, from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to Alexandria International Airport, Louisiana.

Coinciding with the ChipMixer takedown efforts, Minh Quốc Nguyễn, 49, of Hanoi, Vietnam, was charged today in Philadelphia with money laundering, operating an unlicensed money transmitting business and identity theft connected to ChipMixer’s operation.

A court convicted Dustin Coates, 36, of Cherokee, of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, following a joint HSI investigation.

ERO Houston, with assistance from ERO Colombia and the SAFE Task Force in Colombia, removed Jorge Luis Molina-Hernandez, a 35-year-old Colombian national, from the U.S. on March 13. Molina-Hernandez has ties to the “Bloque Sur Andaqui” and the former AUC paramilitary organization.

Jairo Soares-Pereira, 37, was convicted by a criminal court in the Brazilian city of Itambacuri of fraud and sentenced to serve a three-year, four-month prison sentence in September 2019.

The first HSI investigation led to the Feb. 1 indictment of John W. Balch, 75, of Jacksonville, Florida, and formerly of Frederick; Jane Ellen Campbell, 34, of Hagerstown; and Ashley Marie Tibbs, 32, of Hagerstown, with conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child, sexual exploitation of a child and related charges involving five minor victims.

According to court documents, in early 2022, the Springdale Police Department initiated a sexual assault investigation after a 13-year-old female disclosed to a counselor that Pearson Pete Patrick, 39, sexually abused her over the past two years. Officers located Patrick, who admitted to abusing the minor during a post-Miranda interview.

According to court documents, Corey Allen Stephens, 31, used a social media application to chat with others. In the chat, he posted an image of his sexual abuse of a toddler. He boasted that it was “Not the first time I’ve done it.” HSI Chattanooga special agents traced the chat to Stephens’ home, where agents recovered additional evidence of child sexual abuse offenses.

Si Liu, 36, and her codefendants Ye Wang, 32, and Yang Gao, 33, conspired to move and conceal proceeds obtained through prostitution.

Officials removed Hugo Gómez Osorio, 63, to his home country of Guatemala on a flight coordinated by ICE’s Air Operations Unit March 8. Upon arrival, they turned him over to the proper authorities.

ERO Houston, with assistance from ERO Mexico and the SAFE Task Force in Mexico, removed Gregorio Gutierrez-Galvan, a 64-year-old previously removed Mexican national, from the United States on March 10. Gutierrez is wanted in Mexico for homicide.