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February 22, 2023
|Human Smuggling/Trafficking, Narcotics
Adolph Scott, 37, of Baltimore, received the lengthy prison sentence Feb. 15 for transporting an individual to engage in prostitution and for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
February 13, 2023
|Human Smuggling/Trafficking
U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez sentenced 24-year-old Abraham J. Ahumada of Laredo to 262 months in prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. The court also ordered him to pay $4,077 in restitution.
February 9, 2023
|Human Smuggling/Trafficking
Tobias Penner Peters, 46, piloted an aircraft carrying five undocumented noncitizens on Dec. 30, 2021, and crashed shortly after taking off from the Presidio Airport, according to court documents.
February 7, 2023
|Human Smuggling/Trafficking
HSI San Antonio Acting Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee at the podium providing remarks during the USAO Southern District of Texas boating press conference. He provided information regarding HSI’s role in the investigation that led to the arrest of six suspects.
February 6, 2023
|Partnership and Engagement, Human Smuggling/Trafficking
The event, titled “Combatting Human Trafficking in West Virginia: Bringing Our Communities Together for Response, Prevention, Awareness and Action,” enabled HSI Charleston and its law enforcement partners to meet with about 200 teachers, educators, front-line workers, law enforcement partners and other stakeholders to discuss ways to combat human trafficking, specifically addressing the problem throughout the state of West Virginia.
February 6, 2023
|Human Smuggling/Trafficking, Labor Exploitation, Financial Crimes
According to the HSI Norfolk investigation, George William Evans, 68, participated in a conspiracy to harbor, transport, and benefit from the employment of undocumented noncitizens at the commercial laundry business he co-owned.
January 31, 2023
|Human Smuggling/Trafficking
Maria Botello-Morales, a 56-year-old Mexican national illegally residing in Houston, pleaded guilty Jan. 30 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking; sex trafficking with force, fraud or coercion; and sex trafficking of a minor.
January 24, 2023
|Human Smuggling/Trafficking
The symposium coincided with National Human Trafficking Awareness Day and Wear Blue Day. More than a dozen law enforcement agencies, nongovernmental organizations and community partners participated.
January 17, 2023
|Human Smuggling/Trafficking
Edgar Garcia-Torres, 22, was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, Garcia-Torres is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.
January 17, 2023
|Human Smuggling/Trafficking
In August 2021, Miguel Almonte, 42, was convicted of human trafficking. He received a sentence of 10 years in prison, with all but a year and a half suspended, to be followed by five years’ probation.
January 17, 2023
|Human Smuggling/Trafficking
According to court documents, Melvin L. Barahona-Godoy, 27, of Guatemala, and Yoryi Alexis Perez, 33, of the Dominican Republic, led several people to the Rio Grande River, Sept. 21, 2017.
January 11, 2023
|Human Smuggling/Trafficking
HSI Baltimore’s commitment to public safety makes a tangible impact on the Eastern Seaboard and 2022 was a year of significant achievements, especially in human trafficking investigations conducted by HSI Baltimore’s Human Exploitation Group (HEG).
January 5, 2023
|Human Smuggling/Trafficking
Orlando Gonzalez, 22, from Roma, was sentenced Jan. 4, to 72 months in federal prison followed by three years supervised release. The court found Gonzalez’s actions to be a danger to the community, noting he led law enforcement agents on a 100-mph high speed chase which resulted in a tragic rollover.
January 4, 2023
|Human Smuggling/Trafficking
HSI Kansas City is a global leader in the fight against human trafficking and has an extensive mission to proactively fight against the trafficking of individuals.
December 22, 2022
|Human Smuggling/Trafficking
HSI Panama, in coordination with the local TCIU, in addition to HSI Operation Expanded Impact Costa Rica and the Government of Costa Rica, executed 20 arrest warrants and 23 search warrants that resulted in the arrest of 19 individuals, the seizure of several vehicles, and the rescue of 77 migrants, Dec. 13. The individuals rescued were from various countries enroute to the United States, including nationals from Colombia, Ecuador, India, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, and Venezuela. The arrests included six employees of the migration service for Panama.
December 20, 2022
|Human Smuggling/Trafficking
According to court documents, Rosalio Cano Jr., 22, transported an undocumented noncitizen to multiple locations in or around San Antonio over a five-day period. During this time, co-conspirators were in contact with the now-kidnapping victim’s family and repeatedly raised demands for payment.
December 14, 2022
|Human Smuggling/Trafficking
On Dec. 8, a judge sentenced Onilson Dario Juarez-Mendez, 41, to 188 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.
December 9, 2022
|Human Smuggling/Trafficking
Elias Lopez III, a 35-year-old resident of San Benito, Texas, was sentenced Thursday in the Southern District of Texas to 33 months imprisonment to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release for conspiring to transport unlawfully present noncitizens within the United States. Lopez pleaded guilty to the charges July 26.
December 7, 2022
|Human Smuggling/Trafficking
Rolando Joaquin-Miguel, 35, an undocumented noncitizen from Guatemala, is charged with human smuggling and hostage taking in the District of New Mexico. He is being held without bond pending judicial proceedings in federal court.
November 29, 2022
|Human Smuggling/Trafficking
Ryan Odell Oliver, 40, of Baltimore, received the lengthy prison sentence Monday, after pleading guilty to trafficking three female victims. Upon completion of his sentence, Oliver will be subject to 15 years of supervised release.
November 8, 2022
|Human Smuggling/Trafficking
Marcelo Alonso-Almaraz, 32, and Eloisa Almaraz-Vasquez, 35, both undocumented noncitizens from Mexico, are charged with human smuggling and hostage taking. Alonso-Almaraz is also charged with possession of a firearm. Both made an initial appearance in federal court Oct.4, and attended a preliminary and detention hearing today, where they were ordered held without bond pending their judicial proceedings.
November 4, 2022
|Human Smuggling/Trafficking
On Oct. 26, Warren Evan Jose, 38, was sentenced by United States District Judge Scott H. Rash to 440 months in prison for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens for profit with endangerment during which death resulted; two counts of assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon; and two counts of discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence.
November 2, 2022
|Human Smuggling/Trafficking
Gaston Perez, a 40-year-old Brownsville resident, pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Texas, Nov. 1, to transporting unlawfully present noncitizens within the United States.
November 2, 2022
|Human Smuggling/Trafficking
David William McKeon, 67, of Laredo, was sentenced Nov. 2, to 57 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court repeatedly emphasized McKeon’s actions resulted in endangering over 100 people.
October 28, 2022
|Child Exploitation, Human Smuggling/Trafficking
Robert Allen Yost, 61, of Phoenix, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sex traffic children and production of child pornography, as well as conspiracy to transport illegal aliens for profit. Upon release from prison, Yost will be placed on lifetime supervised release with sex offender conditions and will be required to register as a sex offender.
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