News Releases and Statements

Special agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore Field Office seized 23 separate internet domains Friday for allegedly live streaming World Cup matches, an infringement of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) copyrights. Individuals visiting the sites will now see a message that the site has been seized by the federal government and be redirected to another site for additional information.

A large percentage of these sextortion schemes originate outside the United States, primarily in West African countries such as Nigeria and Ivory Coast. As children enter winter breaks this holiday season, HSI and whole-of-government partners encourage parents and caregivers to engage with kids about sextortion schemes to help prevent them from becoming victims.  

On an unknown date and at an unknown location, Galeas entered the United States without being inspected by an immigration official. On Oct. 13, 2022, ERO New York prepared a Notice to Appear, charging removability pursuant to Section 212(a)(6)(A)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act as a noncitizen present without admission or parole.

HSI’s 45 criminal arrests involved suspects with alleged offenses such as murder, attempted murder, rape, assault, handgun possession, home invasion, burglary, threat of mass violence, theft, drug possession and probation violations.

A judge in the Southern District of Texas sentenced Leatrice Malika DeBruhl-Daniels, 49, to nine years in federal prison to be immediately followed by one year of supervised release for obstructing justice, making false statements, and accepting money and gifts for official acts. In handing down the sentence, the court cited DeBruhl’s breach of trust and deterrence.

ERO Los Angeles Officers apprehended Luciano Trejo-Dominguez, 31, during a targeted enforcement operation in the city of Santa Ana, California. A Newark, New Jersey immigration judge ordered Trejo, one of ICE’s 10 most wanted fugitives, removed on October 5, 2021.

Eduardo Rocha-Dos Santos, 41, unlawfully entered the United States on Jan. 31 and an immigration judge placed him in removal proceedings. In July, ERO Boston discovered that Rocha was wanted for attempted murder by Court of Descanso-Santa Catarina in Brazil and was subject to an Interpol Red Notice.

Roger Lee Martinez, a 40-year-old Three Rivers, Texas resident, was sentenced in the Southern District of Texas to 10 years in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Martinez had waived his right to appeal.

In October 2014, Smith was honorably discharged from the military. Though he received several job offers, none fulfilled his desire to continue to serve his community. During a routine appointment at the Omaha VA Medical Center, Smith and his physical therapist began discussing the cybersecurity degree Smith was pursuing. His clinician suggested Homeland Security Investigations, commonly called HSI, and its HERO program. Smith, interested in learning more, began researching it.

Alfonso Salcido Herrera Jr., 45, will remain in custody pending a preliminary and detention hearing scheduled for Dec. 20.

Charles Willoughby III, 39, who served as a youth group leader at New Life Worship Center in Norfolk, faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for his offenses.

A federal grand jury indicted Harold Lloyd Blair Jr., 66, in Springfield on Dec. 6, with one count of using a minor to produce child pornography. The indictment alleges that Blair used the child to produce pornography from Jan. 1, 2012, to Dec. 31, 2013.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Doe was first encountered by immigration authorities in January 1985 in Miami when he attempted to enter the United States from Jamaica by claiming to be a U.S. citizen named Freddie Davis.

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.

An HSI Jacksonville investigation led to the sentencing of Oscar Molina-Avila to four years and four months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to defraud the U.S. to impede the lawful functions of the IRS.

The investigation into the seizures began in September 2022, when HSI received information from a representative of FIFA identifying several sites being used to distribute copyright infringing content, specifically World Cup games, without FIFA’s authorization.

Armando Anthony Vidales, 25, from Poteet, Texas, will serve 360 months in federal prison followed by 20 years of supervised release. The judge also ordered him to pay $5,000 in restitution. Vidales pleaded guilty March 31.

According to the investigation, Ana Patricia Landaverde, 47, of Williamsburg, Virginia; Jeffrey Dean Vaughan, 64, of Williamsburg, Virginia; and George William Evans, 68, of Midlothian, Virginia engaged in a conspiracy to harbor, transport and benefit from employing undocumented noncitizens at their commercial laundry business, Northstar Holdings of Virginia, LLC, d/b/a Magnolia Cleaning Services, LLC.

U.S. District Court Judge C.J. Williams sentenced Gabriel Allen Pelz, 44, after a May 18 guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and one count of use of a communication facility to commit a felony drug crime. Pelz will serve 188 months in confinement and a six-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal prison system.

Joel Cypert, 35, of Columbus, is accused of creating sexually explicit images of a prepubescent, minor victim.

A judge sentenced Dillon Everman, 30, to 345 months in prison for conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child (production of child pornography) following an investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations, commonly called HSI, and the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

William “Bill” Dexter Lucas, 60, and Deborah Jean Lucas, 64, both of Bryan, Texas, pleaded guilty Dec. 8. Brian Corpian, 45, of Houston, entered his plea Dec. 2.

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.

Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Kansas City Joshua Armstrong and Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Dallas Faamausili, 36, of Renton, Washington, was sentenced to more than five years in prison Thursday in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska.

A judge sentenced Paul John McNicol, 30, of LeClaire, Iowa to 216 months in prison for receiving child pornography on Nov. 30 following a Homeland Security Investigations, or HSI, probe.