News Releases and Statements
News Releases and Statements
More than 14 years ago, the life of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent Matthew Brooks and his family was changed forever with the murder of his father.
A statement posted to social media, Nov. 23, is a prime example of the reckless, irresponsible misinformation that continues to mislead the public concerning the mission of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
In June 2019, HSI was contacted by the son of a former U.S. soldier who had legally purchased two Fernando Amorsolo paintings while stationed in the Philippines near the end of World War II.
The final defendant in United States v. Felix-Ramirez, et al, an eighteen-defendant indictment combatting the activities of a transnational drug trafficking organization, was sentenced to prison Nov. 25, by Senior U.S. District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson. All defendants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
The Friday, Saturday and Sunday operation resulted in the arrests of nine people. Five face prosecution for state charges and four have been referred for federal charges. Suspects were booked into the Ada County Jail.
Timothy Howell, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William J. Martinez on November 22, 2019, to 51/2 years in prison and 4 years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute cocaine, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft. Howell’s co-defendant, Cavin Mower, 44, was sentenced by Judge Martinez on September 5, 2019, to 4 years, 2 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and money laundering.
ICE's HSI acting Special Agent in Charge Eben Roberts and U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced Friday that a federal jury sitting in Coeur d’Alene convicted Adam Christopher Horty, 56, of Post Falls, Idaho, of three counts of distribution of methamphetamine, one count of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and one count of felon in possession of firearms.
ICE's ERO in El Centro arrested Luis Gonzalez-Valencia, a 44-year-old Mexican national and confirmed gang member, who was released from Calipatria State Prison after serving an 11-year sentence for manslaughter in 2003. He was arrested Friday morning after ICE officers verified his identity at the prison.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Independence (Missouri) Police Department, arrested 21 individuals between Nov. 12 and 14 during an undercover operation to combat human trafficking and vice for various crimes, including prostitution, promoting prostitution, possessing controlled substances, and weapons offenses. One individual was charged with violating the Mann Act.
Rony De La Cruz Hernandez-Escoto, 52, a citizen of Honduras, was arrested by ICE officers October 17 at the Tooele County (Utah) Jail after his latest felony conviction for illegally reentering the United States.
Alberto Abelardo Pulido-Garcia, 46, was arrested by ICE officers without incident in West Valley, Utah, Oct. 25, 2019. Pulido-Garcia is a fugitive wanted for murder in Mexico.
Mack Biggers, who pleaded guilty to the felony charges Sept. 6, was also sentenced to five years of supervised release to be served immediately following his prison sentence. The sentence includes an upward variance due to Biggers extensive criminal history.
On Aug. 20, 2015, a Romanian court convicted Ioan Flore of injury causing death, manslaughter, or murder, and sentenced him to incarceration for a period of five years and five months. Flore failed to surrender to serve his sentence. Flore subsequently fled Romania at an unknown date and entered the United States illegally.
A jury convicted Agustin Nieto Regalado, 47, residing in Tulsa, for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, and for possession of a false U.S. permanent resident card.
Keith Prescott Gace, a 39-year-old resident of Santa Fe, Texas, was convicted Nov. 19 of sexually exploiting a child, following a short jury trial. The jury deliberated for about one hour before returning the guilty verdict for sexually exploiting a child, aka producing child pornography.
From Nov. 6 to Nov. 8, as part of Operation Vigilant Shepherd, HSI Charlotte targeted predators who tried to entice juveniles to provide child pornography or engage in illicit sexual activities. The operation took place at several locations in York County, including a residence.
The indictment was unsealed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) charging Anthony Cheedie, Chad Allen, Shane Hanna, Cameron Brewster, Kevin Handren, Joseph Ciaccio, a/k/a “Joseph Gallagher,” Joseph Minetto, Joseph Depaola, a/k/a “Joe Hall,” Derrek Larkin, a/k/a “Derrek Martin,” and Mattie Cirilo with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with telemarketing. Larkin and Cirilo also are charged with obstruction of justice.
HSI agents were an integral part of the Washington State Patrol (WSP) led investigation, dubbed “Operation Net Nanny” and a partner agency within the WSP’s Missing and Exploited Children Task Force (MECTF).