News Releases and Statements
News Releases and Statements
The sentencing came as a result of an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami office and the Federal Bureau of Investigations. U.S. District Kathleen M. Williams prosecuted the case against Tomas Vale Valdivia, 45.
On Wednesday, ICE ERO took custody of Salvadoran national Celio Alexander Serrano Trejo, 33, after his arrest by the Prince William County, Va., Police Department for possession of controlled substances. Serrano is the subject of an INTERPOL Red Notice and is wanted in his home country for his participation in MS-13.
The seizures were part of Operation Team Player, an ongoing effort developed by the HSI-led Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Center to target the illegal importation and distribution of counterfeit sports merchandise, and were revealed in Miami, Florida, at a joint press conference with the National Football League (NFL), HSI, CBP and the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD).
Joel Sanchez-Guzman, 46, pleaded guilty to the charges, June 4, 2019. He was also ordered to forfeit $1,300.
According to court records, from approximately February 2017 through January 2019, the defendants, a group of foreign citizens, conspired with each other and others to fraudulently facilitate hundreds of foreign nationals in illegally remaining and working in the United States by actively recruiting them to enroll into a metro Detroit private university that, unbeknownst to the conspirators, was operated by HSI special agents as part of an undercover operation.
Simeao Marcos De Oliveira-Neto was removed from the U.S. Jan. 29, and transferred to Brazilian authorities. He is currently wanted by Brazilian authorities on charges of attempted murder and illegal possession of a firearm.
Mary Ann Lara, 21, and Melissa Janet Lara, 24, both from San Antonio, were sentenced Jan. 29, by U.S. District Judge Alia Moses to 24 years in federal prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Both sisters were found guilty July 17, 2019, after a jury trial.
Pedro Angel Garcia, 26, from Brownsville, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Rolando Olvera to 78 months for distribution of child pornography. Garcia was also sentenced to 78 months for receipt and possession of child pornography.
Hany Veletanlic, a citizen of Bosnia legally residing in the United States, was found guilty of violating the Arms Export Control Act, illegally possessing two unregistered silencers, and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
The 63-year-old Cuban man, whose identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, was pronounced dead by a hospital physician at 9:32 a.m. local time January 27, 2020. The preliminary cause of death was ruled to be cardiac arrest.
Christian Camilo Millan-Romero, 35, was removed from the United States by ERO officers via an ICE Air Charter flight, and transferred into the custody of Colombian law enforcement authorities upon arrival in Bogota.
This multi-day operation involved HSI, Washington State Patrol (WSP), local Snohomish County law enforcement agencies and several partner agencies. These cases will be reviewed by the Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney's Office to determine whether or what criminal charges should be filed.
William Derek Williams, 40, of Cameron, Missouri, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to 20 years in federal prison without parole.
Leonardo Antolin, 25, a.k.a. “Rowdy,” of Whittier, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Virginia A. Phillips, who said that Antolin had shown a “lack of concern for members of the community” through his acts of violence, and “all of that counsels for a very lengthy sentence.”
Charles Lopez, 27, was arrested at his residence following a months-long criminal investigation after HSI and LBI executed a federal search warrant April 30, 2019, at Lopez’s home, where evidence was obtained indicating Lopez received images and videos depicting sexual exploitation of minors.
In a non-prosecution agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Speed Fab Crete, a Texas-based builder, admitted it illegally employed individuals not authorized to work in the United States, and agreed to forfeit $3 million to the U.S. Treasury for use in promoting law enforcement activities related to immigration enforcement.
Consistent with the agency’s protocols, the appropriate agencies have been notified about the death, including the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General, and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility. Additionally, ICE has notified the United Kingdom consulate and Mr. Owen’s next of kin.
Roberto Ramirez, 23, of Tucson, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps after previously pleading guilty August 8, 2019, to one count of transportation of illegal aliens for profit placing in jeopardy of life, three separate counts of assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon, and one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Tomas Rivera, a/k/a Profugo, a/k/a Caballo, a/k/a Jonas Portillo Escobar pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to commit murder and extortion for his role as an MS-13 gang member, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and ICE HSI Special Agent in Charge Tatum King.
Abel Cruz-Perez, 24, of Anchorage, was sentenced Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020, by Sr. U.S. District Judge Ralph R. Beistline to serve 33 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
Marcos German Mendez, 32, is charged with: two counts of using a minor to produce child pornography; one count of transporting child pornography; and, one count of possession of child pornography on his cell phone.
As the excitement of football builds in the Bay Area, sports fans around the city, state and nation, seek out team adorned gear to show support as the Super Bowl nears. Another group paying close attention to sports-related items, is the men and women of ICE's HSI, San Francisco, and CBP.