Right Side News Reports from ICE on this week's top stories
April 16, 2010
Counterfeiters put on ICE following a seizure of more than $1.4 million
MIAMI - More than $1.4 million in counterfeit goods being sold at W.K. International Corporation located at 4760 NW 165th Street in Miami was seized Tuesday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents.
Among the items seized were 14,750 counterfeit professional adidas soccer team jerseys with an estimated MSRP of more than $1 million. ICE agents also seized 8,250 counterfeit pieces of wearing apparel that included trademarks belonging to Ed Hardy, Dolce & Gabbana and others. The wearing apparel has an estimated MSRP of more than $400,000. Read More..
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April 15, 2010
Bay Area woman sentenced to 5 years in domestic worker forced labor case Defendant also ordered to pay over $123,000 restitution
OAKLAND, Calif. - A Bay Area woman convicted of forcing a Peruvian woman to work as her nanny and domestic servant has been sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to pay the victim more than $123,000 in restitution. Mabelle de la Rosa Dann, 46, was sentenced Wednesday on multiple federal charges, including forced labor, unlawful use of documents in furtherance of forced labor, harboring an illegal alien for private financial gain, visa fraud and conspiracy to commit visa fraud. The charges were the result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Read More..
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April 15, 2010
ICE, Mexican authorities meet and agree to prosecution plan for drug smugglers captured at the border
DHS, Government of Mexico announce new agreement to help curb narcotics smuggling
EL PASO, Texas - Leaders from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Attorney General's Office of the Republic of Mexico (PGR) on Thursday announced a new agreement that will help deter drug smugglers from bringing narcotics into the United States.
Alonzo R. Peña, deputy assistant secretary for ICE, and Bernardo Espino del Castillo Barrón, PGR deputy coordinator of delegations, met in El Paso April 15 regarding the newly created Illegal Drug Program. This agreement allows PGR to prosecute certain Mexican nationals under Mexican law.
Under the agreement, ICE will transfer to PGR any Mexican nationals caught trying to smuggle drugs into the El Paso ports of entry. However, the U.S. Attorney's Office will first review these cases for its prosecution discretion. Before this agreement, many of these drug smuggling cases were transferred to local law enforcement agencies for prosecution. Only violators who are Mexican nationals, excluding U.S. permanent residents, will be transferred to the PGR. PGR will prosecute the accused drug smugglers; those convicted and sentenced will serve their time in Mexican prisons.
"The Illegal Drug Program shows the commitment by both governments to reduce the smuggling and trafficking of narcotics by ensuring violators are prosecuted," said Peña. "This new partnership is especially significant in light of the escalating violence in Ciudad Juarez fueled by the destructive influence of the illicit drug trade."
With this additional cooperation between the U.S. and Mexican governments, the goal of IDP is to increase the certainty of punishment to further deter anyone who considers drug smuggling to make quick money. ICE, working closely with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, will determine which cases to present to PGR. PGR will accept any drug-smuggling case referred to it, regardless of the quantity, quality or type of controlled substance seized.
ICE works daily with Mexican law enforcement to share information that supports investigation into weapons smuggling, gang violence, human smuggling and trafficking, and drug trafficking. IDP is the most recent example of the coordination and cooperation between the United States and Mexico to seek innovative ways to combat old problems.
El Paso is the second border city to initiate IDP. In October 2009, ICE initiated IDP in Nogales, Ariz. Since then, PGR has prosecuted two cases, resulting in 10-year sentences for both defendants.
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April 15, 2010
Commercial transportation companies implicated in sweeping ICE investigation targeting Arizona human smuggling networks
47 in criminal custody as agents execute federal search and arrest warrants statewide
PHOENIX - The owners and employees of five Arizona commercial shuttle services are among the 47 criminal suspects taken into custody following the execution of federal search and arrest warrants across the state Thursday in a far-reaching investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) targeting the infrastructure of several major Arizona-based human smuggling organizations.
Thursday's enforcement actions are the culmination of a comprehensive year-long ICE investigation that expanded beyond its initial focus on several Tucson-based shuttle companies allegedly used by smugglers to transport thousands of illegal aliens from southern Arizona to the Phoenix area. The bi-national investigation, which included unprecedented cooperation with Mexico's Secretaria Securidad Publica (SSP), ultimately implicated high-level members of human smuggling organizations in Phoenix, Tucson, Nogales, Ariz., and northern Mexico that were serviced by the shuttle businesses.
At a news conference here Thursday afternoon, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for ICE John Morton and Arizona U.S. Attorney Dennis K. Burke outlined details of the investigation, dubbed "Operation In Plain Sight" because of the brazen nature of the transportation companies' activities. Authorities characterized the case as the most comprehensive human smuggling investigation in ICE history.
"This operation has dealt a serious blow to the infrastructure of some of Arizona's most prolific and profitable human smuggling organizations - organizations that made their money by moving people," Assistant Secretary Morton said. "The defendants wrongly believed they could operate with impunity by hiding behind the veil of legitimacy these businesses provided. Using our investigative expertise, we've dismantled these transnational organizations and literally seized the engines that were driving the criminal enterprise."
"Today's indictments allege a remarkable degree of coordination among alien smuggling organizations and shuttle company operators - all of whom shared a common currency - people and money," U.S. Attorney Burke said. "According to the indictments, the defendants conspired to transport thousands of people across the border and onward to destinations throughout the United States - much of it playing out in the light of day under the guise of legitimate business."
In a massive operation, more than 800 agents and officers from nine federal, state and local law enforcement agencies mobilized Thursday morning to carry out the arrests and searches in four Arizona communities - Phoenix, Tucson, Nogales and Rio Rico. In addition, agents from Mexico's SSP have also made arrests in neighboring Nogales, Sonora, related to the case.
The search locations in Arizona included the offices of four Tucson shuttle services - Saguaro Roadrunner Shuttles, America's Shuttles, Sonoran Shuttles and Nogales Express Shuttles - and a fifth shuttle company in Phoenix, Sergio's Shuttle. According to court documents unsealed Thursday, the aliens transported by the shuttle services were given pre-printed fare receipts in the amount of $30 in an effort to make the shuttle trips appear legitimate.
The investigation revealed the smuggled aliens were transported from the border to the various shuttle companies or drop houses in Tucson. The aliens were then staged at the shuttle businesses or at the drop houses, before being taken by the shuttle vans to various locations in Phoenix. The aliens paid their smuggling fees, typically using wire transmitters like MoneyGram or Western Union, prior to departing Tucson or, in some cases, after arriving in Phoenix. Although most of the smuggled aliens identified during the investigation were from Mexico and Central America, others came from as far away as China.
The aliens' transportation beyond Tucson was handled by smuggling organizations in the Phoenix area that provided support services to human smugglers in Tucson and Nogales. Besides operating drop houses, those services included arranging transportation for the aliens to their final destinations nationwide. The national reach of the Phoenix organizations is underscored by the execution of additional arrest warrants Thursday in Tennessee.
The suspects taken into custody during the operation include most of the 44 persons named in four separate criminal indictments handed down in the case - see accompanying fact sheet for a complete list of the defendants. Those indictments charge the defendants with a variety of federal violations, including money laundering, alien smuggling and conspiracy. In addition, agents arrested seven individuals criminally based upon probable cause. The prosecution is being handled by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona, specifically Assistant U.S. Attorney Munish Sharda in Tucson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Settel in Phoenix.
The criminal defendants arrested in Arizona are expected to make their initial appearances in federal court Friday in both Tucson and Phoenix. A conviction for conspiracy to transport and/or harbor illegal aliens carries a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years. In determining the actual sentences, the judge will consult the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges. However, the judge is not bound by those guidelines. Of those charged in the indictment, four remain at large and are still being sought.
In addition to the criminal arrests, the case indictments include criminal forfeiture allegations valued at $10 million. ICE and the U.S. Attorney's office will be seeking to seize assets - including real estate, vehicles and other property - that were derived from the criminal conspiracy. During Thursday's operation, agents seized a total of seven weapons, including an AK-47 assault rifle, and more than 40 vehicles.
An indictment is simply the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Learn more about Operation In Plain Sight
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April 15, 2010
ICE deports to Brazil 2 INTERPOL fugitives wanted for murder
NEWARK, N.J. - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on Thursday deported a Brazilian couple wanted in their home country for murder and concealment of a corpse.
Eliste Maria Vieira Da Silva, 39, and Celso Vieira Dos Santos, 45, were turned over to the Brazilian National Police at Galeão International Airport on April 15. Both are wanted for the 2003 murder of Ronie Rodrigues Fagundes and concealing his corpse.
The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) issued a Red Notice in January, which alerted law enforcement agencies in member countries worldwide about the couple.
An INTERPOL Red Notice lets law enforcement agencies know that arrest warrants have been issued and extradition will be sought for the fugitives.
The Red Notice sparked a collaborative effort between ICE, U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), Brazilian authorities, and INTERPOL to identify, apprehend, and extradite these fugitives.
ICE fugitive operations officers and U.S. Marshals arrested the couple on March 12 pending their deportation. The couple was residing illegally in the United States.
The couple is accused of shooting the murder victim six times in the back at point-blank range. His body was found in a shallow grave on the property where the two accused conspirators resided.
"ICE's transfer of these fugitives to the Brazilian National Police should send a message that the United States will not permit foreign fugitives from justice to hide within our borders," said Scott A. Weber, field office director for the ICE Office of Detention and Removal Operations in Newark. "This case is just one example of the superb collaborative efforts between law enforcement agencies across international borders."
The INTERPOL Red Notice placed on these individuals facilitated ICE's identification of these fugitives and aided in their extradition.
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April 14, 2010
Former teacher and coach sentenced to 5 years for receipt of child pornography
BALTIMORE - U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced John Joseph Kovach, Jr., 53, of Reisterstown, Md., today to five years in prison, followed by supervised release for life, for receipt of child pornography.
The sentence was announced by U. S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein, Special Agent in Charge William Winter of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Chief James W. Johnson of the Baltimore County Police Department, Special Agent in Charge Richard McFeely of the FBI and Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger.
According to Kovach's plea agreement and court documents, Kovach was an assistant field hockey coach at Towson University and was a teacher and coach at a private elementary school in Montgomery County, Md. On Feb. 27, 2009, a California investigator contacted the Baltimore County Police Department concerning an individual, later determined to be Kovach, who was online soliciting an individual portraying a 13-year old female. In his conversations with what he thought was a 13-year-old girl, Kovach stated that he was a youth soccer and swim coach in California and that he sneaks "pics" of girls in bikinis and "stuff" at pools, beaches and water parks. Kovach also asked the individual sexually explicit questions about her body and sexual activities.
As part of their investigation, Baltimore County Police executed search warrants at Kovach's home and at both of the schools where he worked, seizing computers and other materials related to their investigation. A federal search warrant was issued for the seized computers and forensic analysis of the computers revealed 252 images and 9 videos depicting child pornography. A number of the images of child pornography depicted children under the age of 12 years old engaging in sexually explicit conduct and some of the images also portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct. Forensic analysis was also able to determine that the child pornography was received by Kovach through the Internet.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U. S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Details about Maryland's program are available at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/md/Safe-Childhood/index.html.
U. S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Bonnie S. Greenberg, who prosecuted the case.
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April 14, 2010
Sarasota County Sheriff's Office joins ICE Secure Communities initiative to enhance identification, removal of criminal aliens
Now the criminal and immigration records of all local arrestees to be checked
SARASOTA, Fla. - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials announced on Wednesday the successful implementation of a new information-sharing capability by the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office that will help identify and remove criminal aliens from the United States.
Previously, local arrestees' fingerprints were taken and checked for criminal history information against the Department of Justice's Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) maintained by the FBI. Now, as part of the Secure Communities strategy, fingerprint information submitted by state and local law enforcement agencies will now be simultaneously checked against both the FBI criminal history records in IAFIS and the biometrics-based immigration records in the Department of Homeland Security's Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT).
If fingerprints match those of someone in DHS's biometric system, the new automated process notifies ICE, enabling the agency to take appropriate action to ensure criminal aliens are not released back into communities. Top priority is given to individuals who pose the greatest threat to public safety, such as those with prior convictions for major drug offenses, murder, rape, robbery and kidnapping.
"The Secure Communities strategy provides local law enforcement with an effective tool to identify criminal aliens," said Secure Communities Executive Director David Venturella. "Enhancing public safety is at the core of ICE's mission. Our goal is to use biometric information sharing to prevent criminal aliens from being released back into the community, with little or no additional burden on our law enforcement partners."
"Identification and removal of criminal aliens has been a priority for this office since I took office," said Sheriff Tom Knight. "We initially partnered with ICE in May 2009 to implement the Criminal Alien Program (CAP), but enhancing our partnership to include the Secure Communities strategy will further ensure these offenders are not released back onto Sarasota County streets."
Secure Communities is now being used by 159 jurisdictions in 19 states across the country. ICE expects this capability to be available nationwide by 2013.
Since ICE began using this information sharing capability in October 2008, it has identified more than 21,700 aliens charged with or convicted of Level 1 crimes, such as murder, rape and kidnapping-more than 4,900 of whom have already been removed from the United States. Most of the aliens subject to removal who have been identified but not yet removed are in legal proceedings or completing their sentences. Additionally, ICE has removed more than 28,400 aliens charged with or convicted of Level 2 and 3 crimes, including burglary and serious property crimes, which account for approximately 90 percent of the crimes committed by aliens.
The IDENT system is maintained by DHS's US-VISIT program, and IAFIS is maintained by the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS).
"US VISIT is proud to support ICE, helping provide decision makers with comprehensive, reliable information when and where they need it," said US-VISIT Director Robert Mocny. "By enhancing the interoperability of DHS's and the FBI's biometric systems, we are able to give federal, state and local decision makers information that helps them better protect our communities and our nation."
"Under this plan, ICE will be utilizing FBI system enhancements that allow improved information sharing at the state and local law enforcement level based on positive identification of incarcerated criminal aliens," said Daniel D. Roberts, assistant director of the FBI's CJIS Division. "Additionally, ICE and the FBI are working together to take advantage of the strong relationships already forged between the FBI and state and local law enforcement necessary to assist ICE in achieving its goals."
For more information, visit www.ice.gov/secure_communities.
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April 14, 2010
Orange County man linked to student visa fraud scheme involving "imposter" test takers pleads guilty
SANTA ANA, Calif. - An Orange County man pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiracy to commit visa fraud for orchestrating a scheme to have imposters take college classes, exams and placement tests on behalf of dozens foreign students so they could maintain their lawful immigration status as foreign students.
Eamonn Daniel Higgins, 46, of Laguna Niguel, Calif., entered his plea in U.S. District Court Wednesday afternoon to the charge, which stemmed from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Higgins' sentencing is set for August 9 at 9:30 a.m. before Judge James V. Selna. Conspiracy to commit visa fraud carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Read More..
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April 14, 2010
Hillsborough County man arrested by ICE for sex trafficking of minor
TAMPA, Fla. - Mario Alberto Laguna-Guerrero, 25, of Hillsborough County, was arrested yesterday on a criminal complaint for the sex trafficking of a minor, following an investigation by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Clearwater/Tampa Bay Area Human Trafficking Task Force (CAHTTF).
If convicted as charged, Laguna-Guerrero faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. Laguna-Guerrero made his initial appearance in federal court at 4 p.m. yesterday before Magistrate Judge Mark A. Pizzo, who ordered him to remain in custody with no bond.
"ICE special agents in Tampa work closely with our local law enforcement partners and nongovernmental organizations to identify, rescue and provide assistance for human trafficking victims," said Sue McCormick, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Tampa. "ICE will continue to combat this modern day form of slavery in its efforts to stop those who would exploit human beings for their own financial gain."
According to the complaint, in 2008 in Hillsborough County, Laguna-Guerrero caused a then-16 year-old girl, who is developmentally challenged, to perform commercial sex acts. Read More..
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April 14, 2010
Brazilian fugitive arrested on immigration, gun possession charges
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla.- Geraldo Ricardo Miranda, 43, of Port St. Lucie, was indicted today by a federal grand jury for possessing a gun as an illegal alien, making a false statement under penalty of perjury on a U.S. passport application, making false statements, and falsely representing himself as a U.S. citizen.
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the FBI. Read More..
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April 14, 2010
ICE Assistant Secretary tells Congress the agency is producing results along the Southwest border
WASHINGTON - Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), John Morton testified before Congress today on Southwest border security, saying "our efforts to dismantle cross-border criminal organizations are producing results."
In his update before the U.S. House of Representatives' Subcommittee on Homeland Security, Morton outlined ICE's commitment to ensuring that U.S. borders are secure and to curbing the bilateral flow of contraband including guns, money, and drugs. Read More..
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April 14, 2010
Combating the Cartels
According to the National Drug Threat Assessment 2009, Mexican drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) represent the greatest organized crime threat to the United States today. They threaten our economy, our communities, our children - all for obvious reasons. Simply put, combating DTOs must be a priority in the overall fight against drugs. On April 15, 2010, the Department of Homeland Security finalized an important step as part of that effort.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Attorney General's Office of the Republic of Mexico (PGR) formalized a new agreement, called the Illegal Drug Program (IDP), in El Paso to help halt the progress of DTOs. Under the new agreement, Mexican nationals (except those with dual citizenship or permanent resident of the U.S.) who smuggle drugs through El Paso ports of U.S. entry will now be sent back to Mexico where they will face prosecution and possible imprisonment in their home country.
ICE Deputy Assistant Secretary for Operations Alonzo Peña said of the agreement, "The governments of Mexico and the U.S. both realize that it is vital to the national security of our respective nations and the health and well-being of our respective citizens, to dissuade and reduce the smuggling and trafficking of narcotics across our shared border."
U.S. law enforcement agencies normally prosecute Mexican nationals caught trying to smuggle drugs into the U.S. Under the IDP, after the U.S. Attorney's Office review of these cases, ICE will transfer these drug smugglers coming through El Paso back to Mexican authorities who will prosecute them.
The IDP extends the bilateral enforcement effort, which was initiated in Nogales, Ariz., in October 2009. As a result, two drug offenders were sentenced to 10-year prison terms.
The agreement is an example of the collaborative effort between the governments of Mexico and the U.S. as we work to stem the flow of drug smuggling and violence this crime brings along the southwest border.
Expanding the IDP along the El-Paso-Juarez border requires adding 23 special agents and three group supervisors to the region. These courageous men and women will be on the front lines working to bring an end to the terrible effects of the drug trade and the violence it brings.
Read more about the agreement between Mexico and the U.S.
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April 13, 2010
Secure Communities activated in more Virginia communities
Now the criminal and immigration records of all local arrestees to be checked
Fairfax, Va. - Law enforcement agencies in four northern Virginia counties - Arlington, Fauquier, Loudoun and Stafford - and the city of Alexandria, Va., began employing a new information-sharing capability made available by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as part of the Secure Communities strategy. Secure Communities is ICE's comprehensive strategy to improve and modernize the identification and removal of criminal aliens from the United States.
Previously, local arrestees' fingerprints were taken and checked for criminal history information against the Department of Justice's Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) maintained by the FBI. Now, as part of the Secure Communities strategy, fingerprint information submitted by state and local law enforcement agencies will now be simultaneously checked against both the FBI criminal history records in IAFIS and the biometrics-based immigration records in the Department of Homeland Security's Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT).
If fingerprints match those of someone in DHS's biometric system, the new automated process notifies ICE, enabling the agency to take appropriate action to ensure criminal aliens are not released back into the community. Top priority is given to individuals who pose the greatest threat to public safety, such as those with prior convictions for major drug offenses, murder, rape, robbery and kidnapping.
"The Secure Communities strategy provides local law enforcement with an effective tool to identify criminal aliens," said Secure Communities Executive Director David Venturella. "Enhancing public safety is at the core of ICE's mission. Our goal is to use biometric information sharing to prevent criminal aliens from being released back into the community, with little or no additional burden on our law enforcement partners."
With the expansion of the information-sharing capability to these five jurisdictions, now seven northern Virginia jurisdictions benefit from this tool, including Prince William and Fairfax counties. Across the country, 145 jurisdictions in 18 states have this capability. By 2013, ICE expects to make this capability available nationwide.
"Secure Communities is a great tool in helping us to enforce the law and send a message that there is a cost to coming into the country illegally," said U.S. Attorney Neil H. MacBride. "In most cases, we are targeting those with a criminal background. We are taking them off the streets and out of our communities, and we are potentially deterring them from returning to the United States and committing further crimes."
"We are pleased to have this program in Loudoun and appreciate the opportunity to continue our working relationship with ICE," said Loudoun County Sheriff Steve Simpson. "Secure Communities will only improve our local efforts in removing criminal aliens from the country who are involved in gang activity and other serious crimes in our community," Simpson added.
"Secure Communities is an automated program that will streamline the process to check residency status on every individual that comes into the Arlington County Detention Center. In addition, it helps us continue to partner at the local, state and federal level to ensure Arlington County is a safe place to live and work," said Arlington County Sheriff Beth Arthur.
Since ICE began using this information sharing capability in October 2008, it has identified more than 18,800 aliens charged with or convicted of Level 1 crimes, such as murder, rape and kidnapping-more than 4,000 of whom have already been removed from the United States. Most of the aliens who have been identified but not yet removed are currently in immigration proceedings or completing their sentences. Additionally, ICE has removed more than 24,700 aliens charged with or convicted of Level 2 and 3 crimes, including burglary and serious property crimes, which account for 90 percent of the crimes committed by aliens.
The IDENT system is maintained by DHS's US-VISIT program, and IAFIS is maintained by the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS).
"US VISIT is proud to support ICE, helping provide decision makers with comprehensive, reliable information when and where they need it," said US-VISIT Director Robert Mocny. "By enhancing the interoperability of DHS's and the FBI's biometric systems, we are able to give federal, state and local decision makers information that helps them better protect our communities and our nation."
"Under this plan, ICE will be utilizing FBI system enhancements that allow improved information sharing at the state and local law enforcement level based on positive identification of incarcerated criminal aliens," said Daniel D. Roberts, assistant director of the FBI's CJIS Division. "Additionally, ICE and the FBI are working together to take advantage of the strong relationships already forged between the FBI and state and local law enforcement necessary to assist ICE in achieving its goals."
The MOA ICE entered with the Commonwealth of Virginia will bring the Secure Communities strategy to all Virginia law enforcement agencies by 2013.
Since its inception in October 2008, Secure Communities has identified more than 18,800 aliens charged with or convicted of Level 1 crimes, more than 4,000 of whom have already been removed from the United States. Most of the criminal aliens who have been identified but not yet removed are completing their sentences. Additionally, ICE has removed nearly 25,000 aliens charged with or convicted of Level 2 and 3 crimes, including burglary and serious property crimes, which account for 90 percent of the crimes committed by aliens.
Secure Communities is part of DHS's comprehensive plan to distribute technology that links local law enforcement agencies to both FBI and DHS biometric systems. DHS's US VISIT Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT) holds biometrics-based immigration records, while the FBI's Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) contains biometrics-based criminal records.
For more information, visit www.ice.gov/secure_communities.
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April 13, 2010
Oahu law enforcement agencies first in Hawaii to benefit from ICE initiative to enhance the identification, removal of criminal aliens
Now the criminal and immigration records of all local arrestees to be checked
HONOLULU - Law enforcement agencies on the island of Oahu Tuesday became the first in Hawaii to benefit from a new information-sharing capability that modernizes the process used to accurately identify criminal aliens in the community.
Developed by the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), the information-sharing capability is the cornerstone of Secure Communities, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) initiative to enhance efforts to identify and remove criminal aliens from the United States. Read More..
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April 13, 2010
6 Illinois counties to benefit from ICE strategy to enhance the identification, removal of criminal aliens
Now the criminal and immigration records of all local arrestees to be checked
ILLINOIS - On Tuesday, law enforcement agencies in six Illinois counties - Lake, Madison, McHenry, St. Clair, Will and Winnebago - began employing a new information-sharing capability made available by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) as part of the Secure Communities strategy. Secure Communities is ICE's comprehensive strategy to improve and modernize the identification and removal of criminal aliens from the United States.
Previously, local arrestees' fingerprints were taken and checked for criminal history information against the Department of Justice's Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) maintained by the FBI. Now, as part of the Secure Communities strategy, fingerprint information submitted by state and local law enforcement agencies will now be simultaneously checked against both the FBI criminal history records in IAFIS and the biometrics-based immigration records in the Department of Homeland Security's Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT). Read More..
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April 12, 2010
South Texas man pleads guilty to possessing child pornography
VICTORIA, Texas - A man from Edna, Texas, pleaded guilty on Monday to possessing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney José Angel Moreno for the Southern District of Texas. The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Billy Forrest Marquis Jr., 51, pleaded guilty on Monday before U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey to possessing child pornography. Marquis was indicted by a Victoria, Texas, grand jury on Jan. 21.
ICE agents executed a search warrant at Marquis' residence on May 5, 2009, and seized a hard drive containing numerous images of child pornography. Dozens of these images had been identified as real victims by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Marquis admitted to subscribing to about 10 child pornography websites beginning in 2006 and continuing through 2009. He also admitted that he viewed images of children between 8 and 16 years old. Read More..
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April 12, 2010
Two Miami-based aircraft parts suppliers plead guilty in procurement fraud scheme
4 others previously convicted for their roles in counterfeit airplane parts scheme
MIAMI - On April 7, two Davie, Fla., residents pleaded guilty for their participation in a massive procurement fraud scheme designed to defraud the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and the commercial aviation sector following a multiple federal agency investigation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Mariella Bianchi, 51, owner of The Airborne Group, a military and commercial aircraft parts supply company in Miami and Juan Beltran, 28, director of military sales at the Airborne Group, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit airplane parts fraud. They each face a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison at their sentencing on July 7 before U.S. District Court Judge Marcia Cooke. Read More..
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April 12, 2010
Houston man sentenced to 78 months in prison for possessing child pornography
HOUSTON - A local man was sentenced to 6½ years in prison on Monday for possessing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney José Angel Moreno of the Southern District of Texas. The sentencing followed an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Keith Nathan Symmank, 48, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa Gilmore to 78 months in federal prison without parole for the possession of child pornography conviction, followed by 10 years of supervised release. Symmank must also register as a sex offender and abide by a number of special conditions strictly limiting his access to the Internet and prohibiting contact with minors. Read More..
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April 12, 2010
San Benito sisters sentenced to 2 years for attempting to smuggle almost $400,000
BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Two sisters from San Benito, Texas, were each sentenced to two years in prison on Monday for their role in evading a currency reporting requirement when they attempted to smuggle almost $400,000 through the Los Indio International Bridge in Brownsville. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Jose Angel Moreno, Southern District of Texas. The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and assisted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Zu-Haidy Berenice Torres, 31, and Karla Judith Torres, 25, were each sentenced to 24 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen for evading the reporting requirement for exporting more than $10,000. Judge Hanen also imposed a three-year-term of supervised release for each sister, and each must also perform 100 hours of community service during the first two years.
Both sisters pleaded guilty to the charges on Jan. 7.
The investigation revealed that on Aug. 12, 2009, Karla Judith Torres, driving a Ford Expedition with her sister Zu-Haidy riding as a passenger, approached the southbound inspection lanes at the Los Indios International Bridge in Brownsville. The sisters, appearing nervous, were referred by CBP officers to secondary inspection. They were then asked to declare weapons and/or money in excess of $10,000. They denied possessing any weapons, currency or other monetary instrument in excess of $10,000; and they did not complete the appropriate customs forms for taking currency in excess of $10,000 outside the country.
When CBP officers searched their purses, they discovered five packages of currency. Zu-Haidy then informed agents that more currency was hidden under the rear seat of the vehicle. Nine more packages were found under the rear seat, for a total of 14 packages of U.S. currency, which contained $399,113.
Karla Torres told agents that an individual in Mexico she only knew as "Gordo" paid her $5,000 to go to Houston, pick up the money, conceal it, and then smuggle it into Mexico. Following instructions, she traveled to Houston and exited off highway 59 where she drove into the Wal-Mart parking lot. There she met with an unknown Hispanic individual who gave her a black briefcase containing the money. Karla then drove to the Rio Grande Valley. Then she asked her sister, Zu-Haidy, to help her smuggle the money into Mexico. The sisters then concealed the currency in the vehicle and in the lining of their purses. Zu-Haidy told agents she believed the money was from drug proceeds.
The court permitted both sisters to remain on bond and ordered them to surrender themselves on May 13 to begin serving their sentence. The court also ordered the sisters to forfeit to the United States the $399,133 that was seized.
The investigation leading to the charges and ultimately the conviction of both women was initiated by CBP and investigated by ICE agents.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel Castro, Southern District of Texas prosecuted this case
