News Releases and Statements

Marc Misko, 62, pleaded guilty in Adams County to solicitation to commit money laundering and was fined $7,500. Mitchell Misko, 62, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit theft and was fined $5,000.

During a search of the woman’s residence, HSI special agents recovered counterfeit lipsticks, hair styling products, eyelash adhesive, powder compacts, eye shadow, eye liner, as well as electronic curlers and straighteners.

The purpose of the event was to honor 745 DHS employees from across the country for their extraordinary work and professional excellence. Deputy Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas joined Secretary Johnson for the formal and elaborate ceremony.

The jackets, seized by HSI in 2015, will eventually end up at nearly 100 local charities. In an event held Tuesday by the NCDA’s office, representatives from the charitable organizations, including The Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Long Island, arrived with their empty trucks ready to be filled. Special agents from HSI New York were on hand to deliver the goods.

With Halloween rapidly approaching, federal law-enforcement authorities are issuing a consumer warning against dangerous counterfeit contact lenses and unapproved decorative contact lenses illegally sold at retail outlets and online that can cause eye infections, conjunctivitis and impaired vision.

Nicholas Ramon Ramirez, 60, of Madera, was taken into custody at Del Valle Food, located in the 200 block of 9th Street. During a search of the store, HSI special agents recovered a large quantity of misbranded medications and pharmaceuticals, including three bottles of the powerful pain killer Tramadol, a controlled substance which can cause addiction and even death if misused. 

Artem Vaulin, 30, of Kharkiv, Ukraine, was arrested in Poland and is charged via criminal complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago, with conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement, conspiracy to commit money laundering and criminal copyright infringement.  

As the special agent in charge, Melendez supervises a cadre of special agents responsible for investigating and enforcing more than 400 customs and immigration laws, including conducting major narcotics, financial and trade, gang, and intellectual property rights, human smuggling, and child porn investigations. Melendez was born in Manhattan and at 12 years-old moved to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

During the operation, HSI special agents and partner law enforcement officers targeted 14 retailers of counterfeit goods infringing on the trademarks of Gucci, Michael Kors, Prada, Channel, Ray Ban, Coach, Dolce & Gabbana, Oakley, Nike, Ray Ban and the National Basketball Association. 

“Within the law-enforcement community, it is important that we come together regularly to share experiences and learn from each other; whether it’s talking about the investigative techniques that are working well, or simply shedding new light on emerging threats,” said Deputy Director Ragsdale. “Training sessions such as this also give us an opportunity to share key information and further enhance best practices.”

The training focused on strategies and investigative techniques to assist with the identification and seizure of illicit funds generated by money laundering organizations engaged in transnational criminal schemes. HSI special agents shared best practices for investigating money laundering schemes, the movement of bulk and virtual currencies and intellectual property rights violations tied to terrorist financing.

Operation In Our Sites is the major effort ICE investigators, industry and international law enforcement conduct in order to eliminate copyright infringing websites selling counterfeit goods that may threaten the health and safety of consumers. 

Jae Seon Yoon, 56, was convicted for his role in a scheme to import and distribute drug paraphernalia and other goods with counterfeit markings that made them appear to be from established suppliers. Yoon was the president or vice-president of multiple companies that did business in Washington over the years, including J&J, Inc., Smomax, Inc., and Three People Corp., which were doing business as Top Wholesale, Inc., Smomax Inc. and Cigar USA, respectively.

While sports merchandise is a popular choice, intellectual property thieves will counterfeit any product that can be sold or marketed.  Among the most troubling trends is the burgeoning availability of counterfeit drugs, medical equipment, aircraft and automobile parts, computer hardware, military components, and electrical safety devices.

Bruce Foucart, director of the ICE-led National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center), testified to the dangers of fake goods during a hearing to discuss counterfeits and their impact to consumer safety. He sat on a panel of experts that included representatives from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Global Intellectual Property Center (GIPC), Proctor and Gamble and Revision Military.

The seizures follow an investigation and several undercover buys from the websites. Late last year, HSI special agents bought multiple brand-infringing auto parts from the online retailers and subsequently confirmed with trademark holders that the items were fraudulent.