El Salvadoran Authorities Take National Convicted of Homicide Back Into Custodt

An El Salvadoran national, who is wanted in his home country for aggravated homicide, was deported and turned over to El Salvadoran law enforcement officials Wednesday, May 30, 2012, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Francisco Piche-Aguilar, 23, was deported via government charter flight May 30. An Interpol arrest warrant was issued for Piche-Aguilar Dec. 9, 2010, in connection with the stabbing death of a 37-year-old victim in February 2010.

Piche-Aguilar entered the United States July 17, 2010 on a temporary visitor's visa. He remained in the United States illegally after his visa expired. On July 18, 2011, Piche-Aguilar was encountered by Hoffman Estates (Ill.) police after they received a tip regarding a person wanted for murder. Local authorities contacted ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Piche-Aguila was taken into ICE custody.

On Feb. 2, a federal immigration judge in Chicago ordered Piche-Aguilar deported. A subsequent appeal of the judge's decision was withdrawn by Piche-Aguilar April 17, and the removal order became final.

"This individual attempted to escape justice in El Salvador by seeking safe haven in the United States," said Ricardo Wong, ERO Chicago field office director. "On a daily basis, ICE protects public safety by arresting and removing international fugitives who pose a threat to our communities."

ERO is focused on smart, effective immigration enforcement that targets serious criminal aliens who present the greatest risk to the security of our communities, such as those charged with or convicted of homicide, rape, robbery, kidnapping, major drug offenses and threats to national security. ERO also prioritizes the arrest and removal of those who game the immigration system including immigration fugitives or those criminal aliens who have been previously deported and illegally re-entered the country.

As a result of these types of initiatives, for three years in a row, ICE has removed more aliens than were removed in fiscal year (FY) 2008. Overall, in FY 2011 ICE removed 396,906 individuals nationwide - the largest number in the agency's history. Of these, nearly 55 percent or 216,698 were convicted criminals - an 89 percent increase since FY 2008. This figure includes 1,119 aliens convicted of homicide, 5,849 aliens convicted of sexual offenses, 44,653 aliens convicted of drug-related crimes, and 35,927 aliens convicted of driving under the influence.

Sentencing for El Salvador National Convicted of Illegal Reentry and Violent Crime

A native of El Salvador was sentenced Friday, May 25, 2012, to 84 months in prison for illegally reentering the United States, following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement of Removal Operations (ERO).

Melvin Eraldo Ramirez, 30, pleaded guilty Feb. 23. He had been previously deported four times.

According to court records, Ramirez was convicted Sept. 13, 2001, for attempting to distribute cocaine. He was deported in 2003, and he illegally reentered the United States and was deported in 2005, 2007, and 2008. Ramirez has a lengthy and violent criminal history in the United States, including convictions for theft, abduction, malicious wounding, and assault and battery of a law enforcement official.

"In addition to his extensive criminal history, Mr. Ramirez repeatedly returned to the United States after being deported," said M. Yvonne Evans, acting field office director for ERO Washington, D.C. "This lengthy prison sentence helps send the message that reentering the United States after being formally deported is a serious crime, particularly when that person is a convicted felon."

Upon completion of his prison sentence, Ramirez will be deported to El Salvador, where he will be surrendered to authorities pursuant to an active arrest warrant in El Salvador accusing him of extortion.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys C. Alexandria Bogle and Brian D. Harrison are prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.

Sentencing for Six Involved in Human Trafficking Ring

Six people were sentenced Thursday, May 24, for their roles in a conspiracy to harbor and transport illegal aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas, and Robert Rutt, special agent in charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Houston.

On May 24, the following co-conspirators were sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Janis Graham Jack: Petronilo Sanchez-Jimenez, 42, Norma Leticia Silva-Garcia, aka Norma Sanchez and Norma Rocha, 38, and Sandro Alvarez-Maldonado, 35, all from Edinburg, Texas; Oscar Garza-Perales, 28, from Wharton, Texas; and Tracy Howard, 47, and Christian Russo, 39, both from Houston.

Sanchez-Jimenez, who smuggled illegal aliens across the border and harbored them in stash houses located in the Rio Grande Valley, was sentenced to 87 months in prison. Silva-Garcia and Alvarez-Maldonado assisted Sanchez-Jimenez in harboring illegal aliens. Both received 67 and 51 months in prison, respectively. Howard and Russo, who began the smuggling operation by transporting aliens themselves, later recruited drivers for the organization. They were sentenced to respective sentences of 87 and 78 months in prison. Garza-Perales also recruited drivers and was sentenced to 71 months. The remaining 23 co-conspirators identified in this investigation are scheduled to be sentenced later this year.

The leader of the conspiracy — Armando Olmedo-Trevino, 47, of Wharton, Texas — is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 16. According to his guilty plea, he and others engaged in a conspiracy to harbor and transport illegal aliens from Aug. 9, 2002, until his arrest Jan. 27. He began transporting aliens himself. He was caught transporting aliens on at least two occasions. Afterward, he became the leader, running the operation from his Wharton home.

With the exception of aliens smuggled across ranches in the Falfurrias, Texas, area, illegal aliens were picked up in the Edinburg area and transported north through a border patrol checkpoint in Falfurrias or Sarita, Texas. In most cases, no more than five illegal aliens were transported, hidden under blankets or luggage in between the seats of an SUV or minivan. However, in a few instances, illegal aliens were transported in other ways, such as in the trunk of a car. In June 2011, Olmedo and others modified a trailer with a false compartment that was intended to conceal up to 15 illegal aliens.

Over the course of the 10-year conspiracy, HSI special agents seized about 400 aliens being transported by the organization. The organization transported an estimated 40 aliens per month.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chad W. Cowan and Jeffrey D. Preston, Southern District of Texas, are prosecuting this case.

El Salvador National Deported; Wanted for Murder in Home Country

A member of a transnational street gang wanted in his native country of El Salvador for aggravated homicide was deported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) the week of May 24, 2012 and turned over to authorities in that nation's capital.

Tarsis Dodamin Quintero–Sanchez, 40, was repatriated to El Salvador Wednesday aboard a removal flight chartered by ICE's Air Operations Unit. Quintero, a documented member of the 18th Street Gang, is named in a warrant issued by Salvadoran authorities in September 2007 charging him with murder and belonging to an illicit group, specifically the 18th Street Gang.

According to the warrant, the slaying occurred Sept. 16, 2007, in the Ciudad Delgado section of San Salvador. Authorities allege Quintero and two others fired nine shots at the victim, Oscar Oswaldo Reyes Alvarado, resulting in his death. The motive for the shooting is unknown.

Quintero's deportation caps a five–month effort by ICE's Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) and Office of the Principal Legal Advisor to secure his removal. Quintero came into ICE custody in December 2011, following his conviction in Los Angeles County for vandalism. Since Quintero had been previously deported from the United States in 2000, ICE sought to reinstate his prior removal order. Quintero appealed the agency's action to the Board of Immigration Appeals, which dismissed the appeal in late April, paving the way for Quintero's deportation. While Quintero was in ICE custody awaiting a decision on his immigration case, Salvadoran consular representatives alerted the agency about the outstanding murder warrant.

"Five years after the crime occurred, this suspect undoubtedly believed he'd succeeded in eluding justice, but given our international cooperation, the reach of the law today is longer than ever before," said Timothy S. Robbins, field office director for ERO Los Angeles. "ICE will continue to use its unique immigration enforcement authorities and work closely with foreign governments to protect residents here and abroad from those who pose a threat to public safety."

"One of our top U.S. priorities in Central America right now is to help to improve the security situation in this region," said U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Sean Murphy. "El Salvador is one of our strongest partners in that fight, and this case shows why. Congratulations to both ICE and to the Salvadoran Police on a job well done."

In addition to his most recent conviction for vandalism, database checks indicate Quintero's criminal record in the United States includes two prior robbery convictions in 1993 and 1995.

Since Oct. 1, 2009, ERO has removed more than 335 foreign fugitives from the United States who were being sought in their native countries for serious crimes, including kidnapping, rape and murder. ERO works with ICE's Office of International Affairs, foreign consular offices in the United States and Interpol to identify foreign fugitives illegally present in the country.

International Drug Trafficker Convicted After Decades of Drug Conspiracy

A drug trafficker believed to have been operating since at least the 1980s was convicted by jury Monday, May 21, of a federal drug conspiracy charge for his role as the leader of an international drug trafficking and money laundering ring that operated at least 14 years out of the United States, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Bahamas, France, Italy, Spain and other countries.

The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Metropolitan Police Department.

Gregory Joel Sitzmann, 61, who was born in Iowa and most recently resided in Colombia, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.

The verdict followed a six-week trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Sitzmann faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and a maximum of life in prison. A status hearing is scheduled for June 12.

"Mr. Sitzmann was the leader of an international drug trafficking and money laundering organization and is a career criminal with multiple narcotics felony convictions in the United States and elsewhere," said John P. Torres, special agent in charge for HSI Washington. "HSI and our law enforcement partners will continue to pursue those who continue their illicit activities even after prior convictions."

According to the government's evidence, Sitzmann has used and conspired to use numerous individuals and methods to transport hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia and Mexico into the United States and into numerous countries around the world.

For example, he used commercial and private airplanes, automobiles, trucks and luggage with secret compartments to move the drugs. He also contemplated using Colombian air force planes to smuggle cocaine into Canada.

Evidence showed that Sitzmann has been involved in drug smuggling and money laundering since at least the 1980s and that he provided hundreds of kilograms of cocaine to a Hells Angels motorcycle gang in Montreal, Canada, throughout the 1990s. He maintained corporations and bank accounts in Panama, Switzerland, Luxembourg and elsewhere to facilitate his money laundering and the purchase of assets.

"Gregory Sitzmann was a high-flying international cocaine trafficker who eluded justice for decades," said U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr., for the District of Columbia. "Thanks to a District of Columbia jury, Mr. Sitzmann is no longer free to smuggle cocaine and cash from one country to the next. He will now remain behind bars to contemplate the countless lives destroyed by the drugs he distributed for so many years."

"This case demonstrates that the District of Columbia cannot be used as a platform for distributing drugs throughout the United States," said Cathy L. Lanier, chief of the Metropolitan Police Department. "This defendant smuggled drugs worldwide for years. A jail cell is far less exotic than some of the countries he operated in – but fitting."

Sitzmann was indicted Aug. 7, 2008, by a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia for activities that took place during the 1990s and at least until 2004. The day after the indictment, Sitzmann was deported from France to the United States, where HSI special agents arrested him. He has been in custody ever since. The defendant delayed trial for years, using numerous attorneys while alternating with demands to represent himself.

The prosecution grew out of the efforts of the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, a multi-agency team that conducts comprehensive, multi-level attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. The principal mission of the nationwide program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation's drug supply.

In recent years, investigations by this task force have led to the arrests and indictments of dozens of people from drug organizations that operate in the Washington, D.C., area.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the French National Police, French Customs, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Royal Bahamas Police assisted in the investigation.

Man Arrested in Atlanta for Exporting Illegally to Iran

The president of a South Carolina-based firm specializing in synthesized motor oils was arrested Saturday, May 19, at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Department of Commerce's Office of Export Enforcement.

Markos Baghdasarian, the president of Delfin Group USA, was charged by criminal complaint, issued in the District of South Carolina, with exporting goods from the United States to Iran without the required U.S. Department of the Treasury licenses and with making false statements on official government documents. If convicted of these charges, Baghdasarian could face a maximum of 20 years in federal prison. Baghdasarian made his first appearance before a magistrate judge in the Northern District of Georgia earlier today.

According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Baghdasarian served as president of Delfin Group USA, which is a Russian-owned producer of synthetic motor oils that is located in North Charleston, S.C. From as early as June 13, 2010, until Oct. 12, 2011, Baghdasarian is alleged to have engaged in prohibited transactions with customers in Iran, including Pars Oil, which is an oil company owned by the government of Iran. U.S. persons and companies are prohibited from engaging in commercial transactions involving Iran unless authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

As further detailed in the criminal complaint affidavit, in August 2011, Baghdasarian exported aviation engine oils and polymer valued at $850,000 to Iran. Baghdasarian is alleged to have concealed that Iranian customers were the true recipients of the shipment by falsely asserting in an official document that a business entity in the United Arab Emirates was the ultimate consignee for the goods.

This case was the product of an extensive investigation by HSI and the Office of Export Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Ryan Fayhee of the Counterespionage Section in the U.S. Department of Justice's National Security Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alston Badger of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of South Carolina, Charleston Division.

Charges set forth in a criminal complaint are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.

New York Man Sentenced for Prescription Drug Trade

An upstate New York man was sentenced Wednesday, May 16, to three years probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $13,377 for importing counterfeit Viagra and Cialis tablets into the United States. This investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

According to court documents, between January and June 2011, Curtis Henry, 53, of Rochester, ordered more than 700 counterfeit Viagra and Cialis tablets from a source in China. After receiving the counterfeit pharmaceutical tablets, Henry sold them in Rochester. Henry was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa after he pleaded guilty to the charge Nov. 2, 2011.

"Counterfeit drugs pose a serious threat to public health and safety, and those who engage in this illicit practice have no concern for the well-being of people's lives," said James Spero, special agent in charge of HSI Buffalo, N.Y. "People who purchase drugs should never have to put their lives at risk because the product is fake, unsafe or untested. Homeland Security Investigations and our law enforcement partners in New York will continue to work diligently to make sure counterfeit products stay off of our streets."

"This investigation again demonstrates the commitment of FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations to aggressively pursue those who distribute counterfeit prescription drugs and who greedily place at risk the health and safety of consumers to line their pockets," said Mark Dragonetti, special agent in charge of the FDA, Office of Criminal Investigations, New York Field Office. "I would like to commend the U.S. attorney's office and our joint law enforcement partners at Homeland Security Investigations in our continued efforts in combating counterfeit drugs."

As the largest investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, HSI plays a leading role in targeting criminal organizations responsible for producing, smuggling and distributing counterfeit products. HSI focuses not only on keeping counterfeit products off the streets, but also on dismantling the criminal organizations behind such illicit activity.

HSI manages the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) in Washington, D.C. The IPR Center is one of the U.S. government's key weapons in the fight against criminal counterfeiting and piracy. As a task force, the IPR Center uses the expertise of its 20 member agencies to share information, develop initiatives, coordinate enforcement actions and conduct investigations related to IP (Intellectual Property) theft. Through this strategic interagency partnership, the IPR Center protects the public's health and safety, the U.S. economy and the war fighters.

Members of International Khat Ring Convicted

Thirteen individuals have been convicted for their roles in an international conspiracy, trafficking more than 10 million grams of khat throughout the United States.

The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with support from U.S. Postal Inspection Service, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Marshals Service, as well as local law enforcement in Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and New York. This case was prosecuted as part of Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force's "Operation Buried Treasure."

"This case exemplifies that those who attempt to smuggle controlled substances and other contraband into and out of our country will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted," said John P. Torres, special agent in charge of HSI Washington, D.C. "HSI thanks our domestic and international law enforcement partners for their significant cooperation in dismantling this smuggling and money laundering organization."

Indicted June 16, 2011, the following defendants were convicted May 17 of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cathinone, a schedule I controlled substance found in khat: Suado Mohamed Ali, 45, of Burke, Va.; Hibo Musse Samantar, 34, of Annandale, Va.; Ahmed Ali Hassan, 31, of Alexandria, Va.; Osman Yusuf, 56, of Clifton, Va., Abdirahman Abshir Jibril, 45, of Fairfax, Va.; Harun Salhan, 47, of Wheaton, Md.; Ismail Mohamud Abdi, 50, of Alexandria, Va.; Abdi Muhumed, 43, of Parkville, Md.; Lutf Mohamed Albukhaiti, 36, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Nagi Mansor Sea Alashmali, 50, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Khaled Ahmed Isa, 36, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Abdi Omar Abdi, 56, of Columbus, Ohio; and Abokor Gurreh, 55, of Columbus, Ohio.

Nine of the defendants – Suado Mohamed Ali, Osman Yusuf, Abdirahman Abshir Jibril, Ismail Mohamud Abdi, Abdi Muhumed, Lutf Albukhaiti, Khaled Ahmed Isa, Abdi Omar Abdi and Abokor Gurreh – were convicted of conspiracy to launder the proceeds of khat sales to khat suppliers in the United Kingdom and Africa. Harun Salhan was acquitted on the money laundering conspiracy charge.

The defendants will be sentenced Aug. 10 and 17. Each faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

"This ring illegally imported millions of grams of fresh, potent khat into the United States and then laundered the khat proceeds to hide and promote their illegal activity," said U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Neil H. MacBride. "These convictions should serve as a warning to others who knowingly bring illegal narcotics into the United States and distribute them for profit."

According to court records and evidence at trial, the defendants joined a conspiracy that smuggled khat into the United States from Europe, using human couriers, the U.S. Postal Service and delivery companies. The conspiracy would then distribute the khat throughout the eastern United States, including Ohio, New York and the Washington, D.C. metro area. The conspirators would transmit proceeds from their drug sales to others in England, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda through money-service businesses such as Dahabshiil, Inc. Osman Yusuf, a former branch manager at a Dahabshiil branch in Falls Church, Va., and Abdirahman Abshir Jibril, an employee at that Dahabshiil branch, assisted the leader of the khat trafficking conspiracy, Yonis Muhudin Ishak, in wiring his drug proceeds overseas.

"This verdict is the result of several law enforcement agencies pooling their resources and working together toward a common goal: to protect citizens from the perils of illegal and dangerous drugs," said Postal Inspector in Charge Daniel Cortez. "I would like to thank the inspectors, as well as the special agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection who worked tirelessly to achieve this verdict. I greatly appreciate their dedication of continuing to ensure the safety of the U.S. mail."

Fresh khat leaves contain the drug cathinone, an addictive stimulant with effects similar to, but less intense than that of methamphetamine or cocaine. Over time, the cathinone in khat leaves degrades, and the evidence at trial showed that the conspiracy placed priority on ensuring the khat smuggled into the United States was fresh. The conspiracy used human couriers, who were paid about $1,000 per trip to travel to England and return with khat smuggled in their passenger luggage. Couriers used rented vehicles to transport khat to and from airports, as well as to designated locations throughout the United States. They also used them to retrieve or ship khat to conspirators in other parts of the country. Additionally, members of the conspiracy would receive Express Mail packages containing khat from khat suppliers in the United Kingdom. The shipping labels on these packages falsely reflected their contents as "baby clothes," "picture frames" and other items.

Local law enforcement participation included Arlington County Police Department, Fairfax County Police Department and Alexandria Police Department in Virginia; Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority in Washington, D.C.; Columbus Police Department, Franklin County Sheriff's Department and Gahanna Police Department in Ohio; Baltimore County Police and Montgomery County Police in Maryland; and the New York City Police Department in New York.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary K. Daly and Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Frank, Elizabeth L.D. Cannon and Brian K. Fitzpatrick are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

Fallen ICE Employees Honored at Ceremony

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director John Morton joined ICE employees at ICE's Washington, D.C., headquarters to honor the agency's officers and agents who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty.

Monday, May 14's event was held in commemoration of the 31st annual National Police Week. This year, May 13 to May 19 has been designated as National Police Week.

After the call to order by Office of Public Affairs Assistant Director Brian Hale, the ICE honor guard kicked off the ceremony by presenting the colors. Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Patrick Wilhelm – the brother of fallen ICE Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Gray Wilhelm – sang the National Anthem.

In her remarks, Napolitano spoke about the importance of respecting those who made the sacrifice, remembering their lives, the examples they set and their lasting impact.

"We can never undo their loss," said Napolitano. "We can never say thank you enough times for what they and their families have given. But we can continue to honor them through our own service and by holding the ideals they embodied. We will forever remain in their debt."

Law enforcement is a serious business and an honorable calling that comes with real danger and real risk, Morton said.

In fact – according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund – an average of one law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty somewhere in the United States every 53 hours. Sadly in 2011, 173 men and women were killed in the line of duty. One was an ICE special agent.

Morton encouraged attendees to honor the fallen in their daily lives and thanked the attending family members of fallen special agents and officers Jaime Zapata, David Wilhelm, Lorenzo Gomez, Manuel Zuritas VII, Gary Friedli and Juan Orellana.

"Please remember the officers and agents we honor today," said Morton. "Celebrate who they were and try to live right by them."

Deputy Director Kumar Kibble, Homeland Security Investigations Executive Associate Director Jim Dinkins and Enforcement Removal Operations Deputy Executive Associate Director Tom Homan each placed a yellow rose in a memorial wreath to represent ICE's 49 agents and officers who gave their lives in service to the agency, those fallen officers from other DHS components and those from state and local law enforcement partners who lost their lives in the line of duty, respectively.

Family members also placed white roses in a vase near ICE's Wall of Honor, where each of their loved ones is remembered with an engraved plaque.

After the ceremony, the family members traveled to National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial where names of federal, state and local law enforcement fallen officers are engraved. This year, the name of Special Agent Zapata, ICE's most recent special agent to lose his life in the line of duty, was added to the granite wall.

Chicago Man Sentenced for Employment Fraud, Immigration Fraud

A local man was sentenced Wednesday, May 16, to three years in federal prison for engaging in a fraud scheme that caused the Illinois Department of Employment Insurance (IDES) to pay about $480,000 in unemployment insurance payments to more than 55 ineligible claimants who were not legally allowed to work in the United States.

The sentence was announced by Patrick J. Fitzgerald, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; James Vanderberg, special agent in charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General in Chicago; Gary Hartwig, special agent in charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Chicago; and Thomas P. Brady, inspector in charge of the U.S. Postal inspection Service in Chicago.

The defendant, Roberto Cisneros, pleaded guilty to mail fraud in January and was sentenced May 16 by U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber. Cisneros admitted that more than half of the fraudulently obtained proceeds, about $261,017, was deposited into bank accounts he controlled.

Cisneros, 34, who was in the country illegally when he was arrested in June 2011, has remained in federal custody and will be subject to deportation following completion of his sentence. He was ordered to pay restitution totaling $479,571 to IDES.

According to court documents, between 2006 and 2009 Cisneros accepted money to assist individuals whom he knew were ineligible for unemployment insurance payments by aiding a cohort in submitting fraudulent applications for benefits to an IDES employee for processing.

Unbeknownst to Cisneros, the individual to whom he provided the false applications had later begun cooperating with law enforcement. Cisneros knew that the claims he submitted and assisted in submitting for unemployment insurance were fraudulent because the claimants were not legally allowed to work in the United States due to their immigration status, making them ineligible to receive unemployment insurance payments.

Cisneros admitted assisting in obtaining unemployment insurance benefits on behalf of 57 individuals using Social Security numbers that did not match their names and/or dates of birth, numbers that were not issued by the Social Security Administration, or whose numbers matched their names but were not eligible to work in the United States.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Halley B. Guren and Matthew Getter, Northern District of Illinois, prosecuted the case.

ICE Releases Results of Operation Caribbean Resilience

As part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations' (HSI) ongoing commitment to interrupt and dismantle criminal organizations and to identify and arrest individuals involved in criminal activity, the agency announced Monday, May 14, the results of a four-month enforcement operation dubbed "Caribbean Resilience," which led to the arrest of more than 220 criminals and the seizure of more than 142 illegal arms.

Operation Caribbean Resilience is a joint initiative led by HSI that includes the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) and the San Juan Police Department (SJPD) in response to the unprecedented number of violent crimes committed in Puerto Rico last year. The operation, which began in January 2012, has netted hundreds of arrests and seizures of illegals arms as well as narcotics. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently joined the initiative.

"The results of this operation show the commitment of HSI, and that of our partners in PRPD and SJPD, to rid our communities of individuals involved in criminal activity," said Angel Melendez, acting special agent in charge of HSI San Juan. "Because of the hard work and efforts of HSI special agents and PRPD and SJPD officers, we have 221 fewer criminals and 142 fewer illegal arms in the streets, thus making our neighborhoods safer. This is only the beginning of a series of surges to return our communities to law abiding citizens from unscrupulous criminals who have no respect for human life and dignity."

Operation Caribbean Resilience began in the municipality of Loiza, Puerto Rico, a town considered by law enforcement as an area of high intensity criminal activity where last year, from January to May 2012, a total of 12 homicides were reported by PRPD. This year, during the same period, and under Operation Caribbean Resilience, only six homicides have been reported. This represents a decrease of 50 percent in homicides in the area. This tendency also applied for other types of crimes, such as robbery and assault, which experienced a decrease by 78 and 52 percent, respectively, compared to the same period last year.

In the entire region of Carolina, Puerto Rico, which covers the Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport, Carolina North, South, and West, the tourist zone, and Loiza, the initiative netted more than 73 criminal arrests, which resulted in 34 indictments and six criminal complaints, and the seizure of 48 illegal weapons, 1,747 rounds of ammunition, and more than $30,000 in cash in addition to significant amounts of cocaine, heroin, marijuana and crack cocaine.

In the area of Caguas, Puerto Rico, which encompasses the municipalities of Aguas Buenas, Caguas, Cidra, Gurabo, Juncos and San Lorenzo, Operation Caribbean Resilience netted 87 criminal arrests, of which 53 will be prosecuted at the federal level. Thus far, the initiative has resulted in the seizure of 78 illegal arms, 2,751 rounds of ammunition, $52,000 in cash and a significant amount of narcotics.

So far in the metropolitan area of San Juan, where the initiative was launched in early May, HSI special agents and task force officers have made 20 criminal arrests – two of which were on PRPD's list of the 10 most wanted fugitives – and seized 14 illegal arms and 388 rounds of ammunition.

Although the surges are not limited to public housing projects (PHP), but to all high intensity crime areas, some of the PHPs where a significant number of arrests have taken place are: Luis Llorens Torres, where seven of the 11 leaders of a drug trafficking gang have been identified and arrested; Monte Hatillo, where two of PRPD's most wanted were arrested and its residents tried to repel law enforcement by intimidation and resistance; Las Margaritas, where a PRPD police officer was injured by an individual who was later placed under arrest; Manuel A. Perez, a PHP at war with Ramos Antonini; Villa Palmeras; Nemesio Canales; Cupey Bajo; Bartolome de las Casas; Praxedes Santiago in Cidra, where two individuals allegedly involved in the shooting of the Cidra Municipal Police Station were arrested; Lopez Sicardo; Yukiyu in Loiza; and Jardines del Paraiso.

So far, the initiative has netted 221 arrests, and the seizure of 142 illegal weapons, 4,905 rounds of ammunition, $85,000 in cash, and cocaine, heroin, marijuana and crack cocaine.

Operation Caribbean Resilience Arrests 6 in Puerto Rico

Law enforcement authorities made six arrests and seized illegal weapons and drugs in Puerto Rico as part of Operation Caribbean Resilience.

Operation Caribbean Resilience is a joint initiative led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) that includes the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) and the San Juan Police Department (SJPD).

As part of the operation, special agents and officers arrested William Oyola Mulero, 27, of San Juan, Wednesday at the Alturas de Cupey public housing project in San Juan. Officers seized 45 bags of marijuana from Mulero in making the arrest.

In the same housing complex, HSI and local partners seized a .40 caliber, series 22 Glock pistol; a .40 caliber, series 23, Glock pistol; 58 rounds of ammunition; and four .40 caliber magazines.

At different locations within the public housing complex, task force officers seized five additional .40 caliber magazines; 58 rounds of 9 caliber ammunition; an AR15 rifle; 427 rounds of 2.23 caliber ammunition; a 9 caliber, Sig Sauer model P229 pistol; a .38 caliber Smith & Wesson revolver; 52 rounds of 9 caliber ammunition; three .40 caliber and two 9 caliber magazines; and 910 capsules of crack cocaine.

On Tuesday, Luis Esteban Guzman Gonzalez, 18, was arrested at the Jardines del Paraiso public housing project in San Juan by members of the task force. Guzman Gonzalez was in possession of one bag of marijuana, a .40 caliber Beretta pistol and a .40 caliber magazine. Similarly, Jose Ocasio Santiago was arrested in possession of 32 grams of marijuana and 13 grams of cocaine.

Three other individuals were also arrested by members of the task force Tuesday whose cases were accepted by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico for prosecution. Ruben Vazquez Viust, Roberto Cruz Olavarria and Anthony Fuentes Quiñones were arrested at the Jardines del Paraiso public housing complex for possession of illegal weapons. Task force officers seized a .40 caliber Glock pistol; 46, .40 caliber rounds of ammunition; and three magazines from Vazquez Viust. A 9 caliber Smith and Wesson pistol; 49, 9 caliber rounds of ammunition; and two magazines were seized from Cruz Olavarria while an AK-47 rifle; a .40 caliber Glock pistol; and 47, 7.62 caliber and 11, .40 caliber rounds of ammunition were seized from Fuentes Quiñones.

Operation Caribbean Resilience, an HSI-led, PRPD and SJPD joint effort to initiate a series of public safety law enforcement surges against violent crimes and illegal activity in areas of high intensity criminal activity and drug trafficking in response to the unprecedented number of violent crimes committed in Puerto Rico last year. The operation, which began in January, has netted hundreds of arrests and seizures of illegal arms as well as narcotics.

Former Police Officer Sentenced for Drug Trafficking

A former New York City police officer was sentenced to 25 years in prison Wednesday, May 9, for participating in a violent robbery crew. This sentence stems from an investigation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the New York City Police Department (NYPD), with the assistance of the New York State Police, the Bridgeport (Conn.) Police Department and the Philadelphia Police Department.

On April 25, 2012, Emmanuel Tavarez, 33, pleaded guilty to robbery conspiracy, cocaine and heroin trafficking conspiracy and firearm charges.

Tavarez was a member of a violent robbery crew responsible for more than 100 robberies of narcotics traffickers in the New York metropolitan area and elsewhere that netted more than 250 kilograms of cocaine and $1 million in drug proceeds.

Beginning in approximately January 2001, crew members posing as law enforcement officers staged fake arrests of the traffickers and then forcibly seized the traffickers' contraband. Members of the crew restrained victims with handcuffs, rope or duct tape and often brandished firearms and physically assaulted victims. Crew members sold the stolen drugs and divided the proceeds amongst themselves.

Tavarez participated in at least eight separate robberies and attempted robberies while employed as an NYPD police officer. During these robberies and attempted robberies, Tavarez acted as a lookout and, on at least one occasion, entered a private residence with other members of the robbery crew where he brandished a firearm.

IPR Center Announces New Intellectual Theft Warnings

The National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center), led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), has joined together with the FBI and six major American movie studios to launch an updated anti-piracy warning to be displayed on new releases. The anti-piracy warning will begin appearing in selected DVDs and Blu-rays released this week. The six movie studios, all members of the Motion Picture Association of America, have agreed to utilize the anti-piracy warning.

The joint FBI/HSI anti-piracy warning displays, for the first time, the HSI badge alongside the FBI anti-piracy warning seal and states that, "The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by federal law enforcement agencies and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000." A second screen displays the IPR Center logo with the educational message, "Piracy is not a victimless crime. For more information on how digital theft harms the economy, please visit www.iprcenter.gov."

"Our nation's film and TV business is critical to our economy," said ICE Director John Morton. "Its creativity and imagination have made American entertainment one of our greatest exports over the decades, but criminals are increasingly engaging in new forms of digital theft. Law enforcement must continue to expand how it combats criminal activity; public awareness and education are a critical part of that effort."

The IPR Center works closely with public and private entities to increase awareness and information sharing about the harmful effects of piracy on American innovation, lost jobs and the economy. The IPR Center also brings attention to the organized criminal enterprises often behind IP theft and the public safety implications of counterfeit goods.

In June 2010, HSI launched Operation In Our Sites, which targets online commercial intellectual property crime, including websites offering pirated movies and television shows as well as a diverse array of counterfeit goods, such as sports equipment, shoes, handbags, athletic apparel, sunglasses and DVD boxed sets. To date, more than 760 domain names of websites engaged in the sale and distribution of counterfeit goods and illegal copyrighted works have been seized as a result of Operation In Our Sites. Eleven individuals have been charged with crimes or arrested, and more than $1 million has been seized as criminal proceeds.

As the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security, HSI plays a leading role in targeting criminal organizations responsible for producing, smuggling and distributing counterfeit and pirated products. HSI focuses not only on keeping counterfeit products off our streets, but also on dismantling the criminal organizations behind such illicit activity.

The IPR Center is one of the U.S. government's key weapons in the fight against criminal counterfeiting and piracy. As a task force, the IPR Center uses the expertise of its 20 member agencies to share information, develop initiatives, coordinate enforcement actions and conduct investigations related to IP theft. Through this strategic interagency partnership, the IPR Center protects the public's health and safety, the U.S. economy and our war fighters.

California Local Law Enforcement Removes Criminal Aliens

It was mid-afternoon when Mario Vidrio, an immigration enforcement agent assigned to the Escondido Police Department's Gang Task Force, responded to a call involving an unsafe lane change on one of Escondido, Calif.'s major thoroughfares. He didn't know that this traffic stop was going to help him take a dangerous criminal off the streets of southern California.

When Vidrio arrived at the scene, the subject did not have any identification, and when questioned, stated that he was a citizen of Mexico who was illegally in the United States. Vidrio immediately began conducting record checks, but several of them returned negative results. It wasn't until Vidrio transported the individual to back to the Escondido Police Department and ran his fingerprints against a series of databases that he received a positive result. The San Diego County Sheriff's Department had issued a $600,000 felony warrant for the arrest of this individual. He was charged with child molestation and had previously been deported.

This scenario is not unique. ICE's partnerships with local law enforcement agencies in northern San Diego Country have resulted in the arrest of more than 1,000 criminal aliens and immigration violators over the last two years.

The majority of these arrests occurred in Escondido, where nearly 800 individuals have been taken into custody since ICE and the Escondido Police Department launched Operation Joint Effort in May 2010. Operation Joint Effort helps the two agencies leverage resources to identify and arrest criminal aliens, fugitive aliens and aliens who have illegally returned to the United States after having been removed.

Robin Baker, field office director for the Enforcement and Removal Operations office in San Diego, is proud of the 1,000 arrests, but knows there is more work to do.

"This milestone clearly shows that our collaborative efforts with local law enforcement to improve public safety are having an impact," he said. "These partnerships have increased the number of potentially dangerous deportable criminals being removed from our communities and ultimately from our country."

Member of International Car Theft Scheme Pleads Guilty

A Washington, D.C., man pleaded guilty Thursday, May 3, to conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen motor vehicles, following an investigation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Kevin Demetri Britton, 19, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty. According to his plea agreement, between 2010 and April 2011, Britton was an active participant in a conspiracy to ship stolen cars from the United States to countries in West Africa for resale. Members of the conspiracy in the United States hired others to steal late model vehicles – with the keys – so that the vehicles could be more easily sold. The vehicles were stolen as follows:

·                             The conspirators broke into car dealerships, stole the keys to new cars, and drove the cars off the lot;

·                             The conspirators paid employees of dealerships to leave keys to vehicles in the vehicles or in an otherwise accessible area, and the cars were driven off the lots when the dealership was closed;

·                             Vehicles were stolen from victims who walked away from their vehicle, leaving their keys inside the vehicle;

·                             The conspirators paid others to rent vehicles from rental agencies, file false reports with the police claiming the vehicle had been stolen, and to turn the vehicle over to the members of the conspiracy; and

·                             Individuals were robbed of their vehicles at gunpoint by assailants who were stealing the vehicles for members of the conspiracy.

Members of the conspiracy purchased the stolen vehicles from the thieves or an intermediary, and then stored the vehicles at a parking lot or other location, known as "cooling spots." Often, members of the conspiracy hired others to find and remove G.P.S. devices from the vehicles to avoid detection by law enforcement. After three or four vehicles were accumulated, the vehicles would be towed or driven to a location to be loaded into a shipping container. Thereafter, a tractor trailer would transport the container to a port for export. Additionally, members of the conspiracy hired international shipping companies to arrange for the containers to be shipped overseas. In order to ship vehicles overseas, shipping companies are required to have valid titles for the vehicles. As part of the scheme, members of the conspiracy used fraudulent title information in an effort to conceal that the cars they sought to ship had been stolen.

The containers were transported to various ports, including the Port of Newark, N.J.; the Port of Baltimore and the Port of Norfolk, Va. The containers were then shipped, or intended to be shipped, to destinations in West Africa, including Nigeria and Ghana.

Britton's role in the scheme varied. He acted as an intermediary between the car thieves/carjackers. In the fall of 2010, Britton met Solomon Asare, 36, formerly of Laurel, Md., and learned that Asare would give him cash for late model stolen cars. Britton also learned that Asare shipped the stolen cars to Africa for resale. From the fall of 2010 through April 2011, Britton obtained at least nine stolen cars and sold them to Asare, or someone acting on Asare's behalf.

For example, on March 17, 2011, members of the conspiracy carjacked a silver 2009 Toyota Camry from a victim in Landover, Md. Later that evening, Britton delivered the car to Gabriel Awuzie, 35, of Adelphi, Md. and Solomon Asare. Asare paid Britton for the stolen car. On March 31, 2011, Asare and Awuzie caused the car to be delivered to the shipping company, then entered the vehicle, removed items and wrote down the vehicle identification number.

At all times during his involvement in the scheme, Britton knew that the vehicles he provided were stolen, and he knew that the vehicles were being shipped across state and national borders. The loss associated with vehicles that Britton personally participated in the shipment of was more than $120,000.

Awuzie and Asare previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme. According to his plea agreement, Awuzie drove stolen vehicles within Maryland and across state lines to ports for international shipment, assisted in the storing and "hanging" of stolen cars into shipping containers, purchased stolen vehicles from the car thieves or intermediaries, hired individuals to steal cars, and arranged for the theft and international shipment of vehicles. Awuzie sometimes assisted others in the scheme, and at other times Awuzie orchestrated the transaction from its inception to its end.

Asare admitted that he took orders from "buyers" in Africa, purchasing the stolen vehicles from intermediaries, arranging to "cool" the vehicles, load the vehicles into containers and ship the containers to the buyers in Africa. Asare paid the participants along the way, including the intermediaries, drivers of the stolen vehicles, tow truck drivers, tractor-trailer drivers and shipping companies. All payments were in cash.

On April 6 and April 7, 2011, Awuzie, Asare and other conspirators loaded three of the stolen vehicles sold to them by Britton, as well as a fourth stolen vehicle, into a shipping container at a shipping company in Beltsville, Md. A few days later, Awuzie and Asare caused the shipping container to be transported to Elkridge, Md., and to another location in Maryland, en route to Lagos, Nigeria, via the Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal in New Jersey. On April 13, 2011, law enforcement stopped the tractor trailer transporting the shipping container in Baltimore. The container was searched and the four stolen vehicles were discovered.

Additionally, in 2011, Asare applied for a U.S. passport in the name of another individual containing the personal information of that individual and bearing a photograph of Asare. Asare paid the individual to assist in filing the false passport application.

Britton and Asare both face a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the conspiracy and Asare also faces a mandatory minimum of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft consecutive to any other sentence. U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar has scheduled sentencing for Asare July 17 at 1:00 p.m. and for Britton Aug. 28 at 10:00 a.m.

On April 5, Judge Bredar sentenced Gabriel Awuzie to 30 months in prison and ordered Awuzie to pay restitution in the amount of $120,000 for his role in the conspiracy.

The investigation was conducted by HSI Baltimore, Baltimore County Police Department, Montgomery County Police Department, Maryland State Police and Prince George's County Police Department.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Budlow.

HSI Works to Protect Borders from Bandits and Gangs

You'll find them in Arizona's most remote areas, brandishing firearms and bullet-proof vests. They are on the hunt for weapons traffickers or drug smugglers. But they're not law enforcement officers. They are bandit crews – criminals – who will do anything to make a profit, which often means murdering and stealing from other criminals in the desert.

"Mexican drug smuggling organizations sometimes use bandit crews to police their desert smuggling routes and rob from competitors," said Kevin Kelly, assistant special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Nogales, Ariz.

The prevalence in bandit crews has resulted in a surge of violence throughout the Southwest corridor. Two men were murdered in the desert near Eloy, Ariz., and three individuals were allegedly robbed and held against their will while their families were extorted for money. In an effort to curb this trend, HSI and the U.S. Border Patrol have partnered to investigate bandit crews and disable their operations. Law enforcement authorities are currently investigating the murders, and a criminal complaint has been filed in Arizona federal court against an alleged bandit.

As a direct result of the HSI and U.S. Border Patrol partnership, two individuals were recently sentenced to five years in federal prison. Border Patrol agents arrested them in the mountains of southern Arizona in June after they were spotted carrying a loaded AK-47 assault rifle and bullet proof vest. The men admitted that they intended to rob groups of drug smugglers carrying backpacks of marijuana through the Arizona desert.

"Thanks to great teamwork with our Border Patrol partners and federal prosecutors, we were able to take these two bandits out of the desert and put them in prison," said Kelly.

Suspect in Double Homicide Arrested During Attempt to Cross Canadian Border

A suspect was taken into custody early the morning of May 2 in connection with the discovery of two bodies in Saugus, Mass., May 1. The apprehension of this suspect is the direct result of law enforcement cooperation and close coordination by: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP); CBP’s U.S. Border Patrol; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); FBI; Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA); Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP); Maine State Police; and Massachusetts State Police.

Joseph Wright, 23, of Lynn, Mass., was taken into custody as he attempted to cross the U.S.-Canada border. Donna Breau, 54, who was identified as one of the victims in yesterday's double homicide, is Wright's mother.

At approximately 6:05 p.m. May 1, Wright arrived at the Canadian port of entry in Woodstock, New Brunswick, Canada. When Wright attempted to cross the border, CBSA directed him to a secondary screening area. He then fled the area and was pursued by Canadian authorities. U.S. Border Patrol personnel and equipment were rapidly deployed to the international boundary adjacent to the Richmond Corner, New Brunswick, Canada-area. Additional resources were requested from state and local law enforcement agencies to assist with securing the area should the subject attempt to re-enter the United States. A CBP Houlton Air Branch helicopter was also launched for aerial support. Wright was subsequently apprehended in Richmond Corner by the RCMP.

Early the morning of May 2, the RCMP turned Wright over to CBP officers at the Houlton port of entry for processing, who then turned him over to Maine State Police. He is currently in custody at the Aroostook County (Maine) Jail and will be arraigned in Houlton District Court today at 1:00 p.m. on fugitive from justice charges.

At that time, if Wright waives extradition, he will be taken into custody by Massachusetts State Police detectives who will return him to Massachusetts where he will face murder charges.

HSI Agents Honored for National Crime Victims' Rights Week

Two special agents assigned to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Arizona were honored Thursday, April 26, by the acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona as part of the Department of Justice's (DOJ) National Crime Victims' Rights Week.

HSI Special Agents Evangelina Cardenas and John Koski were among six law enforcement officers and prosecutors honored during a ceremony at the U. S. Attorney's Office for their work providing vital support and services to crime victims.

"The United States Attorney's Office is deeply committed to seeking justice on behalf of crime victims and their families," said Ann Birmingham Scheel, acting U.S. attorney for the District of Arizona. "Our prosecutors and advocates work diligently with our law enforcement partners to ensure that crime victims and their families obtain the services and assistance they need to help them get through difficult and challenging times in their lives."

Cardenas, a special agent assigned to HSI Tucson, was lauded for her work as an HSI victim assistance coordinator, a position she has held since December 2009. In the course of her work, Cardenas has responded numerous times to human smuggling drop houses, hospitals and other locations to work with victims of violent crimes such as assault, sexual assault and hostage taking. Cardenas was noted in particular for her work providing assistance to unaccompanied children found in drop houses or rescued from human smugglers who were holding them for ransom. In these cases, she worked closely with agencies such as Arizona Child Protective Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Mexican consulate to help reunite these children with their parents.

Koski, a special agent assigned to HSI Flagstaff, was honored for his investigative work on human trafficking cases, particularly a forced labor investigation. Koski's close coordination with other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and his keen investigative work brought trafficking victims to safety and helped bring alleged traffickers to justice. Koski was heralded for his caring response to victims and his work to ensure trafficking victims received vital victim services, resource referrals and the support they needed through the justice process.

"I am extremely proud of the dedication and professionalism of Special Agents Evangelina Cardenas and John Koski," said Matt Allen, special agent in charge of HSI Arizona. "Their tireless efforts have saved lives, served victims and helped bring the perpetrators of crime to justice. It's an honor to wear the same HSI badge as these fine law enforcement professionals."

The Crime Victims' Rights Act, enacted in 2004, grants victims in federal criminal proceedings certain enforceable rights, including the right to be reasonably heard at public court proceedings and to receive full and timely restitution as provided by law.

National Crime Victims' Rights Week, commemorated each April since 1981, is organized by the DOJ's Office for Victims of Crime. The event promotes victims' rights and honors crime victims and those who advocate on their behalf. This year's theme, "Extending the Vision: Reaching Every Victim," calls on all of us to expand the vision that inspired the victims' movement and to celebrate the progress achieved thus far.

Fresno Illegal Alien and Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Firearm Possession

A Fresno man with ties to a local street gang has pleaded guilty to charges of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm.

Hector Gonzalez, 19, appeared in court to answer to the charge stemming from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Fresno Police Department.

According to court documents, on Dec. 10, 2011, Gonzalez was a passenger in a car that was the subject of a traffic stop by the Fresno Police Department. An officer discovered a .22-caliber gun on Gonzalez during a pat-down search. Gonzalez admitted that he was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, and had not pursued citizenship in the United States. Gonzalez also admitted he has been affiliated with the East Side Bulldogs since he was 15 years old.

"For criminal street gangs, weapons are the tools of the trade. Taking gang members and their guns off the street makes our community safer," said Clark Settles, the special agent in charge who oversees HSI Fresno. "Homeland Security Investigations will continue to work closely with its federal, state and local law enforcement partners to disarm and dismantle these organizations that are spreading crime and violence through our neighborhoods."

"ATF is committed to preventing violent crime and pursuing criminals who unlawfully possess firearms and are members of a gang," said Stephen C. Herkins, special agent in charge for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. "Too often, guns and gangs are a deadly combination."

Gonzalez is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill July 9. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Sanchez is prosecuting the case.