News Releases and Statements

Nicholas Gregory Halvorson has been sentenced to more than 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges arising from a probe by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations that he received and shared over the Internet more than 1,400 images depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Robert L. Hedrick, the former president of the Brownsville-based Pan-American Airways, was found guilty Monday of attempting to sexually exploit children, transferring obscene materials to a minor, and distributing and possessing child pornography.

Russell Weisz was sentenced in federal court Monday to nearly six years in prison for possessing child pornography. This sentence resulted from an investigation by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), in cooperation with the Bismarck Police Department, the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation...

Four Fresno residents have been sentenced to prison time for trafficking in counterfeit movie and music disks following a probe by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations.

Roger Lee Wagner, 56, of Schertz, Texas, was sentenced May 18 to 200 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Fred Biery, Western District of Texas. Judge Biery also ordered Wagner to pay a $1,000 restitution fee to three victims and $100 special assessment fee.

John D. Roach, 64, of Topeka, was convicted on one count of possessing child pornography. Prosecutors presented evidence that Roach used his father's credit card to purchase access to a Russian website that distributed child pornography. Investigators followed an electronic trail to Roach's home in Topeka where they found more than 600 images of child pornography and 41 movies containing child pornography on his computer, drives and CDs.

Simon Casares-Rodriguez, a previously deported Mexico national, was sentenced Monday to 10 years in federal prison for re-entering the United States after being deported. The sentence resulted from an investigation by ICE's Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO).

Fourteen convicted drug traffickers and money launderers were sentenced Monday to federal prison terms as high as 33 years, following a joint investigation coordinated by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Joshua Conde, a teacher at a children's daycare and after-school facility in the Bronx, was arrested Wednesday for possessing and distributing child pornography. This arrest comes as a result of an investigation by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations and the New York City Police Department (NYPD).

ABC Professional Tree Services Inc. (ABC) has agreed to adhere to revised immigration compliance procedures and to pay $2 million as forfeited funds to the Department of Homeland Security related to revenue derived from the employment of illegal aliens.

Curtis Henry of Rochester, New York, was sentenced Wednesday to three years probation and ordered to pay $13,377 for importing more than 700 counterfeit Viagra and Cialis tablets from a source in China into the United States. This investigation was conducted by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

John Wyss of Monroe, Wis., was found guilty yesterday for his participation in an international criminal network, known as Dreamboard, dedicated to the sexual abuse of children. The charges against Wyss are the result of Operation Delego, an ongoing investigation targeted against Dreamboard that has lead to 42 individuals convicted so far.

"Officials released details Friday of a federal grand jury indictment stemming from a probe led by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations that charges four defendants for crimes surrounding the manufacture and distribution of synthetic drugs sold under the brand name ""K2."""

"Thirteen individuals have been convicted for their roles in an international conspiracy, trafficking more than 10 million grams of khat throughout the United using human couriers, the U.S. Postal Service and delivery companies. This case was prosecuted as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force's ""Operation Buried Treasure."""

Steven Waring, 32, of Titusville, Fla., was employed by the Brevard County School Board at Space Coast Junior/Senior High School. According to court documents, Waring made his collection of child pornography directly available for others to download from his IP address and shared directory.

Abraham Moreno-Gutierrez, a Mexican national who is wanted for homicide in his home country, was deported and turned over to Mexican law enforcement officials Thursday by ICE's Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO).

Michael Lombardi pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiracy to commit visa fraud, following an investigation by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations and the Mississippi Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General. Lombardi was the owner of U.S. Opportunities, a business that provides temporary foreign workers to U.S. companies.

David A. Fisher, 53, of Pekin, Ill., was sentenced May 16 by U.S. District Judge Joe Billy McDade to serve 188 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography. Following completion of his prison term, Judge McDade ordered Fisher to remain under supervised release for ten years.

Gustavo Morales-Ortiz of Reading, Pa., was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in prison for drug possession and weapons possession in a case investigated by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations.

A local man was sentenced Wednesday to three years in federal prison for engaging in a fraud scheme that caused the Illinois Department of Employment Insurance (IDES) to pay about $480,000 in unemployment insurance payments to more than 55 ineligible claimants who were not legally allowed to work in the United States.

"Twelve suspects were taken into custody Tuesday in the culmination of a long-term probe dubbed ""Operation Middle Man"" targeting a Bay Area-based heroin trafficking ring by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the California Department of Justice-led South Bay Metro Task Force. "

Jose Luis Santos-Garcia, a resident of Winston-Salem, N.C., pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to conspiring to smuggle munitions to Mexico, following an investigation by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations, the Jackson County Criminal Interdiction Team and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Albert Garza of Delano, Calif., was sentenced Monday to 20 years in prison on federal child pornography charges stemming from a probe by ICE's HSI. Garza downloaded and maintained a collection of 358 videos and 1,741 still images depicting minors engaged in various types of sexually explicit conduct.

Following a two-day jury trial, Nicasio Roman, a Mexican national with a prior conviction for a child sex offense, has been found guilty on felony charges of re-entering the United States following deportation.

Five Laredo residents pleaded guilty Tuesday to falsifying assault rifle purchases, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas.