News Releases and Statements

Kseniia Petrova, 31, a Russian citizen, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of smuggling goods into the United States. Petrova was taken into immigration custody on Feb. 16, 2025, and arrested May 14 by ICE Homeland Security Investigations special agents on the criminal charge.

Miguel Angel Ramirez-Vidal, 32; Jesus David Luna-Marquez, 20; Jesus Roberto Morales-Amador, 27; and Jose Daniel Santiago-Mendoza, 22, arrested following the filing of a criminal complaint and are scheduled to appear for arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen Betancourt at 1:45 p.m., May 22.

Shem Wayne Alexander, 35, of Port of Spain, Trinidad, faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.

According to court documents, Victor Hugo Diego-Avellaneda, 39, was attempting to leave the U.S. and enter Mexico at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry on Jan. 19. He made a negative declaration regarding possession of weapons, ammunition, and currency.

The 15-count indictment, returned last month and unsealed on Jan. 24, charges nine defendants with conspiracy, smuggling and breaking customs seals. The defendants allegedly took containers flagged for off-site secondary inspection, unloaded the contraband, then stuffed the targeted containers with filler cargo to deceive customs officials and evade law enforcement.

The gold jewelry was imported by a U.S. wholesaler who provided false documents and statements to U.S. Customs and Border Protection regarding its the country of manufacture to evade U.S. tariffs applicable to gold jewelry.