Army Sergeant Sentenced for Illegal Export of Military Equipment

An Army sergeant, who was previously stationed in the Orlando-area while serving in the military, was sentenced Tuesday, October 30, 2012, to 46 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, after he violated the Arms Export Control Act and International Traffic in Arms Regulations.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS).

According to court documents, from 2007 to 2010, Fidel Ignacio Cisneros, 42, of Lynnwood, Wash., served as a soldier in the U.S. Army where he performed various missions in Iraq and elsewhere. During his deployment, Cisneros stole three Acquired Tactical Illuminating Laser Aimers (Atilla-200 lasers), an ACOG rifle scope and several other items. He brought all of the items back to Orlando without first obtaining permission from the Department of Defense.

Using his eBay account, Cisneros auctioned one of the Atilla-200 lasers to the highest bidder, noting in the auction advertisement that it was "impossible to find on the international market." Cisneros shipped the Atilla-200 laser from Orlando to a Japanese national in Tokyo in exchange for $3,200.

According to the U.S. Munitions List and category XII(b) of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, individuals cannot export Atilla-200 lasers outside of the United States without a license. Cisneros did not have the appropriate license or permission to export the Atilla-200 laser to Japan.

In March 2010, Cisneros also auctioned several other items. He shipped a PEQ AN/PEQ-14 night vision pointer illuminator to California, a Thuraya Hughes 7101 satellite phone GSM+GPS to Kuwait, a Thuraya Satellite phone docker FDU 2500 to California and a PEQ/Atilla 200 rail mounted laser to Nevada.

On Jan. 26, 2011, Cisneros admitted to HSI special gents that he knew it was probably wrong to sell the items and that civilians probably were not allowed to possess them. That same day, agents recovered the remaining Atilla-200 lasers that Cisneros stole from the Army. Federal law enforcement agents in the United States and in Japan subsequently recovered all of the items, with the exception of the satellite phone, that Cisneros sold.

"We have protections in place to ensure that sensitive military technologies do not end up in the hands of our adversaries," said Shane Folden, deputy special agent in charge of HSI Tampa. "This individual, a former soldier, completely disregarded our country's export laws solely to make a dollar."

"It is disheartening when a military member abandons his code of conduct and violates a position of trust for personal enrichment. The DCIS will continue to aggressively investigate these offenses to protect the integrity of the Department of Defense, especially those service members who are serving honorably and selflessly in Southwest Asia," said DCIS Special Agent in Charge of the Southeast Field Office John F. Khin.

Cisneros pleaded guilty to the charges July 31.

HSI Intelligence Officers Awarded for Leadership

Three employees assigned to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)/Homeland Security Investigations' (HSI) Intelligence Office have been honored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Kirstin F. Grote and Erin G. Zappas were both awarded with a DHS Intelligence Leadership Award for their work on Project Global Shield. John W. Clifton also received the DHS Intelligence Leadership Award for his work as an intelligence research specialist at the National Bulk Cash Smuggling Center (BCSC). Both were awarded this distinction by DHS Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis Caryn Wagner.

Grote and Zappas are critical members of Project Global Shield, a multilateral law enforcement initiative targeting the illicit diversion and trafficking of explosive precursor chemicals used by terrorist and other criminal organizations to manufacture improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Cooperating with international partners is essential to protecting the global supply chain and the safety of American citizens. HSI is partnering with the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to form Project Global Shield. This aims to thwart the smuggling of precursor chemicals that could be used to build IEDs, which are weapons commonly used against American troops and U.S. interests overseas.

In November 2010, Project Global Shield initially began as a pilot with more than 70 participating nations that shared information about 14 precursor chemicals. Based on its initial success and importance to multiple countries, the WCO's 177 members voted to continue Project Global Shield long-term in June 2011. This was the first time that the international community, as a whole, addressed the threat posed by these dangerous precursor chemicals. With real-time information and intelligence sharing, partners are now better equipped to identify whether or not shipments are legitimate.

"These two employees have shown exceptional leadership in their work, providing high quality, actionable intelligence products that were instrumental in providing leads to law enforcement personnel - both in the United States and abroad - as well as in shaping policy," said James Chaparro, director of HSI Intelligence. "Both have enhanced collaboration throughout DHS and beyond, leveraging HSI's intelligence capabilities to develop new relationships between our agency and our law enforcement counterparts dedicated to addressing the IED threat. I know that these two employees will continue to dedicate themselves to furthering our mission of protecting the homeland and U.S. interests abroad."

The work of the Project Global Shield intelligence team produced time sensitive and actionable intelligence products that directly resulted in seizures of explosive precursor chemicals in multiple locations around the globe, and several arrests. The seizure of the explosive precursor chemicals helped to save the lives of countless numbers of coalition forces and civilians. This team has also helped to drive best practices and policy changes among participating nations in the WCO to strengthen the global supply chain.

Clifton, who works at the BCSC, has proven himself as an outstanding leader in the intelligence field. Clifton has singlehandedly developed three high-priority and highly complex money laundering investigations in the last two years. 

"The breadth and scope of these investigations is unprecedented at HSI," added Chaparro. "He has worked tirelessly with field special agents and analysts alike, educating them on the myriad of potential violations and assisting them in tracing billions of dollars in illicit proceeds. His devotion to duty is unsurpassed, and I am proud that he has been recognized by DHS for his accomplishments in this area."

HSI Intelligence is a robust intelligence force that supports the enforcement needs of HSI's executive leadership and operational field units.

Cutting edge technology, complex intelligence gathering tools, multifaceted investigative techniques and a high level of professionalism have enabled HSI Intelligence to set the standard for federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies. HSI Intelligence collects, analyzes and shares strategic and tactical data. It also supports federal, state, local, tribal and international law enforcement partners.

HSI Intelligence analysis and targeting information plays a vital role in supporting investigations related to illegal immigration, terrorism, weapons proliferation, war crimes, financial crimes, trade fraud, drug smuggling, human smuggling and trafficking, child sex tourism and other criminal activities.

HSI Target Operation Nets 23 Child Predators

They ranged in age from 18 to 66. They were Army reservists, doctors and students, and they traveled as far as 120 miles to have sex with a child who they believed to be 14 years old or younger. Things, however, didn't go as planned for this group of child predators. They were met by law enforcement officers from a variety of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

The operation was titled Operation Volusia Broadband, and it was spearheaded by Florida's Volusia County Sheriff's Office. Undercover law enforcement officers posed as children, or in some cases as guardians of children, and chatted with suspected child predators. The undercover officers then lured the offenders to a decoy house in northern Florida that was equipped with surveillance cameras.

"These predators think they're above the law," said Sue McCormick, special agent in charge of HSI Tampa, which oversees HSI Cocoa Beach. "We were happy to assist our state and local counterparts execute this operation. Child predators should take note. We will find you, arrest you and make sure you are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

Most of the offenders were charged with three state felonies – use of a computer to seduce or solicit a child to engage in unlawful sexual conduct, traveling to meet a minor to engage in unlawful sexual conduct and unlawful use of a two-way communications device.

The week ending in Friday, October 19, 2012, ast week, representatives from HSI Cocoa Beach, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the State Attorney's Office, among others, held a news conference to announce that 23 men were arrested as part of the operation.

"The arrests that were made in the past five days should be a wake-up call for all predators. Protecting children is our highest priority, and we're going to continue to be aggressive and proactive in attacking exploitation whenever and wherever it occurs," said Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson at the news conference. "I'm glad we got them off the street, out of this county. And let the citizens know we will do this again."

Haitian National Pleads Guilty to Violating TSA Security Program

A Haitian national pleaded guilty Oct. 18 for violating the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) security program. This plea comes as a result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) led Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) in New York.

Benedick Dextra, aka Benedick Louis, 44, pleaded guilty to violations of entry into a seaport under false pretenses. The investigation revealed Dextra obtained fraudulent documents under the name of Benedick Louis. He then used these illegal documents to obtain a New York State (NYS) driver's license, and a TWIC, which allowed him access to secure areas, such as container terminals in Port Elizabeth, N.J.

"Today's guilty plea by Benedick Dextra for obtaining access to secure areas of the New York City seaport through fraud is a first of its kind," said James T. Hayes Jr., special agent in charge of HSI New York. "The investigation conducted by HSI and our Border Enforcement Security Task Force partners, namely the Federal Air Marshal Service and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, underscores our commitment to protecting America's ports."

"We are proud of the efforts made by Supervisory Federal Air Marshal Osbert Orduna in this case," said Robert S. Bray, director of TSA's Federal Air Marshal Service. "This joint investigation further exemplifies the partnerships between all of our DHS components."

In 2009, as part of a routine customs inspection, Benedick Dextra was stopped by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers as his truck exited a terminal at Port Elizabeth. Dextra presented a TWIC credential bearing the name Benedick Louis. Subsequent checks revealed that Benedick Louis and Benedick Dextra were the same individual. He was arrested October 22, 2010, and charged with violating the TWIC program.

The TWIC program is a TSA-led security initiative that ensures individuals who pose a threat do not gain unescorted access to secure areas of the nation's maritime transportation system.

To obtain a TWIC, an individual must provide biographic and biometric information such as fingerprints, be photographed and successfully pass a security threat assessment conducted by TSA. TWICs are tamper-resistant biometric credentials issued to workers who require unescorted access to secure areas of ports, vessels and outer continental shelf facilities.

BEST is comprised of federal, state, local and foreign law enforcement counterparts, working together to develop a comprehensive approach to identifying, disrupting and dismantling criminal organizations posing significant threats to border security, seaports and maritime ports of entry. The New York BEST is composed of HSI, the Federal Air Marshal Service, CBP, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the New York City Police Department, Coast Guard Investigative Services, the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor, and the National Guard.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Gatz for the Eastern District of New York is prosecuting the case.

Man Sentenced for Exporting Sophisticated Technology to Iran

A Tampa man was sentenced Thursday, October 18, 2012, to four years in federal prison for conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Iranian Transaction Regulations. He was also ordered to serve one year of supervised release and forfeit $10 million, which was traceable to proceeds from the offense. This sentence resulted from 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.

According to court documents, between 2003 and 2011, Mohammad Reza "Ray" Hajian, 57, of Tampa, conspired with others to unlawfully export sophisticated, enterprise-level computer and related equipment from the United States to Iran, in violation of the U.S. embargo. 

In an effort to conceal their activities, Hajian and his co-conspirators routed shipments of computers and related equipment, payments and travel between the United States and Iran through the United Arab Emirates. Hajian and his co-conspirators communicated with each other via email. They employed fake identities, fake end-users and coded language to mask the true nature of their activities. Hajian shipped approximately $14.85 million worth of computer and related equipment during the conspiracy.

"The magnitude and scope of the threats facing the United States has never been greater than today, and that's why Homeland Security Investigations investigates individuals who try to export sensitive technologies to hostile nations," said Sue McCormick, special agent in charge of HSI Tampa. "Homeland Security Investigations takes pride in protecting our country, and today's sentencing is the latest example of our effective investigative efforts."

"Today's sentencing demonstrates the ongoing cooperation with our federal law enforcement partners to prevent U.S. technology from falling into the wrong hands. In this case, a key Iranian procurement network which could have been damaging to U.S. national security was shut down," said Robert Luzzi, special agent in charge of the U.S. Department of Commerce/Bureau of Industry and Security's Office of Export Enforcement Miami Field Office. "Parties who conspire to export to embargoed destinations such as Iran will be pursued and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

Hajian pleaded guilty July 11. Three of his companies, RH International LLC, Nexiant LLC, and P & P Computers LLC, also pleaded guilty that same day.

HSI Arrest Florida Dinosaur Enthusiast for Stealing Dinosaur Bones from Mongolia

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents arrested Eric Prokopi, 38, of Gainesville, Fla., early Wednesday, October 17, 2012, pursuant to a federal criminal complaint charging him with multiple crimes relating to a scheme to illegally import dinosaur fossils into the United States, including a nearly complete Tyrannosaurus bataar skeleton from Mongolia, a Saurolophus angustirostris skeleton, also from Mongolia, and a Microraptor skeleton from China.

Prokopi was arrested the morning of Wednesday, October 17, 2012, by HSI special agents at his home in Gainesville, Fla., and was presented at the federal courthouse in Gainesville the afternoon of Wednesday, October 17, 2012. Prokopi is charged with one count of conspiracy to smuggle illegal goods, possess stolen property and make false statements. If convicted on this charge, he faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison. He is also charged with smuggling goods into the United States, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and interstate sale and receipt of stolen goods, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Prokopis arrest follows an earlier civil suit filed by the U.S. Attorneys Office Southern District of New York (USAO SDNY) seeking forfeiture of the Tyrannosaurus bataar skeleton so that it can be returned to Mongolia. That action is pending before U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara stated, "As alleged, our recent seizure of the Tyrannosaurus bataar skeleton from Eric Prokopi was merely the tip of the iceberg – our investigation uncovered a one-man black market in prehistoric fossils. In addition to our commitment to ensuring that these relics are returned to their countries of origin, we are equally committed to shutting down Prokopis illegal business and holding him to account for his alleged crimes."

HSI NY Special Agent in Charge James T. Hayes Jr. said, "The arrest of Eric Prokopi and the recent seizure of the Saurolophus angustirostris fossil sends a clear message that HSI does not tolerate the sale of allegedly stolen cultural artifacts. We want to make this illegal business practice extinct in the U.S. This fossil is a symbol of the rich cultural heritage of the Mongolian people. HSI will preserve the fossil and return it to its rightful owner."

The following allegations are based on the complaint unsealed Wednesday, October 17, 2012, in Manhattan federal court, the amended civil forfeiture complaint and statements made in court proceedings:

Prokopi owns and runs a business called "Everything Earth" out of his Florida home and is a self-described "commercial paleontologist." He buys and sells whole and partial fossilized dinosaur skeletons. Between 2010 and 2012, the defendant acquired dinosaur fossils from foreign countries and unlawfully transported them to the United States, misrepresenting the contents of the shipments on customs forms. Many of the fossils in Prokopis possession were indigenous to Mongolia and could only be found in that country.

In fact, Mongolian officials have uncovered a witness who accompanied Prokopi to an excavation site in 2009 and observed him physically taking bones out of the ground. Since 1924, Mongolia has enacted laws declaring dinosaur fossils to be the property of the Mongolian government and criminalizing their export from the country.

One of the fossils Prokopi unlawfully imported into the U.S. is the skeleton of the Tyrannosaurus bataar, a dinosaur that lived during the late Cretaceous period, approximately 70 million years ago. When importing this skeleton, Prokopi made a number of misrepresentations about its identity, origin and value. The Tyrannosaurus bataar skeleton was sold at an auction in Manhattan for more than $1 million, pending the resolution of court proceedings that were instituted on behalf of the Mongolian government in an effort to reclaim the skeleton prior to the sale, but after the auction materials were published. When he heard about the court proceedings, Prokopi responded by emailing an individual who works for Heritage Auctions – the institution that put the skeleton up for sale – stating, in part, "If (the Mongolian president) only wants to take the skeleton and try to put an end to the black market, he will have a fight and will only drive the black market deeper underground."

Prokopi also illegally imported from Mongolia the skeleton of a Saurolophus angustirostris, another dinosaur from the late Cretaceous period that he ultimately sold to the I.M. Chait gallery in California. In addition, Prokopi unlawfully sold the fossils of two other dinosaurs native to Mongolia, Gallimimus and Oviraptor mongoliensis, and imported the fossilized remains of a Microraptor, a small, flying dinosaur from China.

The investigation is being conducted by HSI New York.

HSI plays a leading role in criminal investigations that involve the illegal importation and distribution of cultural property, as well as the illicit trafficking of artwork. The agency specializes in recovering works that have been reported lost or stolen. The HSI Office of International Affairs, through its 71 attaché offices in 47 countries, works closely with foreign governments to conduct joint investigations, when possible.

HSI specially trained investigators, assigned to both domestic and international offices, partner with governments, agencies and experts to protect cultural antiquities. They also train investigators from other nations and agencies on investigating crimes involving stolen property and art, and how to best enforce the law to recover these items when they emerge in the marketplace.

Since 2007, HSI has repatriated more than 2,500 items to more than 23 countries.

The criminal case is being prosecuted by the USAO SDNYs Complex Frauds Unit. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Martin S. Bell. The ongoing civil forfeiture case is being handled by the Offices Asset Forfeiture Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sharon Cohen Levin and Martin S. Bell are in charge of the forfeiture case.

The charges against Prokopi are merely allegations. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Life Sentence for JFK Baggage Handler who Ran Drug Trafficking Ring

A former American Airlines baggage handler was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday, October 16, 2012, for his leadership of an international drug trafficking organization. This sentencing comes as a result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Port Authority (of New York & New Jersey) Police Department, the Internal Revenue Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

"Victor Bourne and his crew of corrupt former American Airline employees mistakenly viewed drug smuggling as a path to riches. The sentencing today serves as a stern warning about the consequences awaiting drug smugglers," said James T. Hayes Jr., special agent in charge of HSI New York. "HSI will continue to use its resources and the expertise of its law enforcement partners to flush out criminals who attempt to exploit our borders."

"Using his insider status, Bourne turned American Airlines into his personal narcotics shuttle service, running a criminal organization that ignored passenger safety and security in the pursuit of their greater goal - enriching Victor Bourne," said Loretta E. Lynch, U.S. attorney of the Eastern District of New York. "Bourne not only abused the trust of American Airlines to satisfy his own financial greed, but by compromising security at JFK Airport he placed all travelers at risk. In this post-9/11 era, we will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute those at our ports of entry who violate our nation's drug trafficking laws and threaten the integrity of our borders."

Victor D'Costa Bourne, 37, was the leader of an international drug trafficking organization that smuggled narcotics from the Caribbean into the United States through John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). A federal jury in Brooklyn returned guilty verdicts against Bourne on charges of leading a continuing criminal enterprise, importing and distributing illegal narcotics, and money laundering, after a month-long trial in October 2011.

In total, the investigation that culminated in Bourne's conviction and sentence has resulted in 20 convictions, including the conviction of 19 airline employees, the seizure of 13 kilograms of cocaine and 2,900 pounds of marijuana, and the forfeiture of $6.9 million.

The evidence at trial proved that, between 2000 and 2009, the Bourne organization utilized corrupt employees of commercial airlines, including American Airlines, working at domestic and international ports of entry to smuggle illegal narcotics into the U.S. and throughout the Caribbean. Bourne paid dispatching crew chiefs at American Airlines to assign crews of baggage handlers, who, in turn, were paid tens of thousands of dollars by the Bourne organization to retrieve the cocaine from the flights upon arrival.

The cocaine smuggled aboard American Airlines flights into JFK was hidden behind panels in the front and rear cargo holds, the ceiling, wing assembly, avionics, and other vital equipment compartments. After removing the cocaine from these locations, the corrupt baggage handlers hid the drugs inside their coats and airline equipment bags to avoid detection by law enforcement and safely transport the drugs to Bourne.

The government proved at trial that, in this manner, the Bourne organization was responsible for the importation into the U.S. of over 150 kilograms of cocaine. At the time of his arrest in 2009, Bourne was preparing to transport even larger quantities of cocaine in cargo containers from the Caribbean to the United States.

The evidence presented by the government at trial included testimony from six former American Airlines employees who pleaded guilty to narcotics trafficking charges resulting from their participation in the Bourne organization. Each witness described Bourne's control of the drug smuggling operation, including the recruitment and payment of his workers, the secret locations on the aircraft where the cocaine was hidden, and the growth of the organization over time. One of the employees recounted a conversation in which Bourne stated, in substance, that he "started with half a kilo, then got 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 30, 50."

Another government witness, an American Airlines employee at JFK who was not involved in drug trafficking, testified that Bourne accused him of stealing two kilograms of cocaine. This witness testified that Bourne threatened to "kill me, my family, my kids" if the drugs were not returned. Shortly thereafter, Bourne confronted the same employee at the airport and pushed him off of a truck, causing a neck injury.

The evidence at trial also established that Bourne was responsible for the shipment of over 5,000 pounds of marijuana aboard cargo vessels, in part through a Brooklyn footwear company, to businesses in Barbados.

Bourne reaped millions of dollars in illegal cash proceeds from his illegal drug trafficking, and laundered his drug proceeds through businesses and real estate ventures in Brooklyn and Barbados.

In addition to a lifetime term of imprisonment, Bourne was ordered to forfeit $5.1 million.

Fairytale Brownies Pledges Legal Immigration Employment Practices; Certified as ICE IMAGE Partner

A mail-order gourmet brownie business became the 17th Arizona company to join a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) program designed to strengthen hiring practices and combat the unlawful employment of illegal aliens.

Fairytale Brownies Inc., was certified as an "IMAGE" or "ICE Mutual Agreement Between Government and Employers" partner during a ceremony Tuesday, October 16, 2012. IMAGE is a voluntary program that allows private industry to partner with ICE to reduce unauthorized employment and the use of fraudulent identity documents.

"By taking the initiative to become IMAGE certified, Fairytale Brownies is setting the example for other small businesses in the state and around the country," said Matt Allen, special agent in charge of HSI Arizona. "When employers make a commitment to hire and maintain a lawful workforce, it's good not only for their business, but for the community and the nation."

Fairytale Brownies was started in a small Scottsdale catering kitchen in 1992 and has since grown into a large mail order business with annual revenues of $10 million. The company's operations are now managed from a southeast Phoenix facility that produces as many as 60,000 brownies daily and employs 40 regular workers and a peak seasonal workforce of 150 employees.

Earlier this month, the company was named one of three recipients of the Better Business Bureau's 2012 International Torch Awards for Marketplace Excellence, which recognize U.S. and Canadian businesses that exemplify the advancement of trust in the marketplace.

"Fairytale Brownies is honored to be accepted into ICE's IMAGE program," said Kim Silva, operations team leader with Fairytale Brownies. "Our core business values are product excellence, incomparable service, integrity, teamwork and leadership in the workplace. We strongly believe in conducting business in a way that makes both our employees and customers proud. Being accepted into the IMAGE program further solidifies our commitment to this philosophy and signifies that Fairytale Brownies continues to be an industry leader among those throughout the business community."

Undocumented workers create vulnerabilities in today's marketplace by presenting false documents to gain employment, completing applications for fraudulent benefits, and stealing identities of legal United States workers. To combat this, ICE initiated the IMAGE program in 2006.

As part of the IMAGE program, ICE provides private companies with education and training on proper hiring procedures, including use of employment screening tools such as E-Verify.

IMAGE certified companies also undergo an audit of their I-9 forms to ensure current employees are eligible to work in the United States.

Arizona employers interested in learning more about IMAGE membership may call the ICE IMAGE coordinator in Phoenix at 602- 407-6155 or visit www.ICE.gov/image.

Mexican Nationals Sentenced for Smuggling Marijuana on Vegetable Trucks

Three men who planned to use a Gainesville warehouse to unload their vegetables and marijuana were sentenced to prison Thursday, October 11, 2012, by Senior United States District Judge William C. O'Kelley. The investigation leading to the sentences was led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Marco Ortiz-Barajas, 19, Angel Zamudio-Martinez, 54, and Jose Luis Chavez-Morfin, 43, all of whom are from Mexico but resided in the Atlanta metropolitan area, were convicted based upon their June 29 guilty pleas to a charge of conspiracy to possess marijuana with the intent to distribute.

"Today's sentences are a reminder that drug trafficking carries with it serious consequences and that no community is immune from its presence or its potentially destructive effects," said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates.

"This case demonstrates that Atlanta and its surrounding environs continue to serve as a hub for the distribution of marijuana and other drugs smuggled into the United States from Mexico," said Brock D. Nicholson, special agent in charge of HSI Atlanta. "HSI will continue to work with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to target the organizations responsible for drug trafficking in Georgia and to send a strong message that their criminal activity will not be tolerated here."

Chavez-Morfin was sentenced to five years, 10 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Zamudio-Martinez was sentenced to four years, two months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Ortiz-Barajas was sentenced to three years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Each defendant will be deported to Mexico at the end of his sentence.

According to information presented in court, during the course of an undercover investigation HSI special agents learned that Ortiz-Barajas, Zamudio-Martinez and Chavez-Morfin were planning to unload a shipment of marijuana at a Gainesville warehouse. As soon as the tractor trailer arrived at the warehouse, law enforcement executed a search warrant. Under the cilantro, peppers and other green vegetables, law enforcement located and seized 1,572 pounds of marijuana.

The approximate street value of the marijuana seized is $3,144,000.

ICE recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following website: www.justthinktwice.com. Additional information can be found at www.DrugFree.org.

In May 2012, the Partnership at Drugfree.org released the findings of a new, national study entitled "The Partnership Attitude Tracking Study." This study, which tracks drug use and attitude trends among high-school aged teens in America, revealed some troubling findings. Most notably, it found that in 2011 marijuana use among teens rose over the preceding three years, with an especially sharp rise in heavy, past-month use (i.e., 20 or more times in the past 30 days) of the drug. Heavy, past-month use of marijuana saw an 80 percent increase among U.S. teens since 2008.

This case was investigated by HSI and members of the Gainesville-Hall County Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad. The agencies involved with the arrests include the Hall County Sheriff's SWAT Team, Gainesville Police Department and Hall County Sheriff's Office uniform patrol divisions, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, FBI Safe Streets Task Force, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Georgia State Patrol and Georgia State Patrol Aviation Division.

Cartel Organizer and 5 Associate Members Sentenced for Bribing Public Official

A Gulf Cartel organizer and five of his associates were sentenced Wednesday, October 10, 2012, after they were convicted for bribing a public official, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas.

This investigation was led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with the assistance of the FBI and Brownsville Police Department.

U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen imposed the following sentences Oct. 10:

·                             Juan Carlos De La Cruz Reyna, 37, was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison, and ordered to pay a $100,000 fine;

·                             Julio Adolfo Torres, 40, was sentenced to 120 months;

·                             Carlos Melo, 38, was sentenced to 84 months;

·                             Gaspar Montes-Montes-Martinez, 42, was sentenced to 46 months, and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine;

·                             Trejo Juan Trejo Venegas, 34, was sentenced to 46 months; and

·                             Jose Cruz Venegas Esquivel, 37, was sentenced to 24 months.

Adalberto Nunez Venegas, 40, who was also convicted in the case, will be sentenced in January.

All six defendants previously pleaded guilty between April 23 and May 10.

According to court documents, the convictions resulted from an investigation launched as De La Cruz Reyna was set to be released from federal prison after serving 30 months for assaulting federal agents in Matamoros, Mexico, in November 1999. Those assaults were conducted at the direction of Osiel Cardenas Guillen, who was then leader of the Gulf Cartel.

After completing his first prison sentence, De La Cruz Reyna would normally have been returned to Mexican authorities since he had no legal status to remain in the U.S. He would have been returned at either a port of entry along the U.S.-Mexican border or flown to the interior of Mexico. However, fearing possible prosecution by Mexican authorities or being taken into custody by a rival drug cartel, De La Cruz Reyna attempted to bribe a federal official to ensure safe passage to Mexico. Through the co-conspirators, De La Cruz Reyna made a total of $797,000 in bribe payments over the course of the scheme.

At his direction, De La Cruz Reyna's co-conspirators met an undercover officer, who they thought was a corrupt HSI special agent, on numerous occasions from May 2011 to March 2012, and made several bribe payments. During this period, De La Cruz Reyna admitted he spoke with the special agent from prison on numerous occasions about bribery payments and to negotiate his release and with another special agent in Atlanta, Ga., and on two occasions to discuss his covert removal to Mexico.

The overall bribery scheme primarily involved obtaining De La Cruz Reyna's unannounced removal to Mexico, his release to elements of the Gulf Cartel, and avoiding official notification and transfer to the appropriate Mexican federal law enforcement authorities. The bribery scheme also involved allowing individuals to visit him in the Atlanta prison while he was there.

After De La Cruz Reyna was transferred to the Rio Grande Valley in preparation for his supposed release to elements of the Gulf Cartel, several of the conspirators, including De La Cruz Reyna and Nunez Venegas, met with the special agent and discussed the final bribe payment. At that time, the officer was wearing his official credentials clearly indicating he was a federal law enforcement officer. On -March 13, Nunez Venegas, Trejo Venegas and Montes-Martinez met with the undercover officer and made the final payment.

On the night of March 14, the six men met with the special agent to discuss the final arrangements and each person's role in the operation, at which time they were all arrested. De La Cruz Reyna was also arrested on that date.

De La Cruz Reyna and the others will remain in federal custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jody Young and Angel Castro, Southern District of Texas, prosecuted this case.

Texas Men Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Cocaine Trafficking

Two south Texas men were sentenced Thursday, October 11, 2012, after admitting their guilt to trafficking cocaine in Weslaco, Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas.

Jose Santos Casas-Gonzalez Sr., 51, and Rogelio Mata-Ramirez, 50, both previously pleaded to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 29 kilograms of cocaine. Senior U.S. District Judge Hayden Head, who accepted their guilty pleas, sentenced Casas-Gonzalez and Mata-Ramirez to 188 months Oct. 11 for trafficking cocaine and conspiracy to commit money laundering. In addition to their sentence, the judge also ordered them to serve five-year terms of supervised release following completion of their prison terms.

During sentencing, Judge Head noted that both men were partners in the organization and were equally responsible, and both were involved in multiple loads of cocaine that were received from the Zetas and moved throughout the United States. The court also entered a final order of forfeiture for the real property located at 8129 North F.M. 88, in Weslaco – the location of Rio Shallow Boats Inc.

According to court documents, Casas-Gonzalez and Mata-Ramirez admitted to hiring a driver in December 2010 to transport approximately 30 kilograms of cocaine through a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint. They also admitted to utilizing Casas-Gonzalez's business, Rio Shallow Boats Inc., to help in the facilitation of their drug trafficking activities. Casas-Gonzalez further acknowledged he used the profits from his drug business to make his boat company appear legitimate. Casas-Gonzalez admitted to using drug money to buy vehicles, pay for personal expenses and reinvest into his business, Rio Shallow Boats Inc.

Casas-Gonzalez and Mata-Ramirez were part of a cocaine conspiracy operating between the Rio Grande Valley and areas north, circumventing U.S. Border Patrol checkpoints by utilizing ranches in South Texas. Both were smuggling large amounts of narcotics, primarily cocaine, through and around the U.S. Border Patrol checkpoints to various destinations throughout the United States.

They trafficked narcotics using tractor-trailers, boats in the Intracoastal Waterway and in various other ranch vehicles around the U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint near Sarita, Texas. Mata-Ramirez is a former employee of the King Ranch and is one of the coordinators for the drug smuggling operations, working for Casas-Gonzalez.

Members of the Zeta organization would supply Casas-Gonzalez with cocaine in which he used Rio Shallow Boats Inc. to fabricate compartments for the smuggling of this contraband in boats, tractor trailers and trucks.

They have both been in custody where they will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

This was a multi-agency investigation dubbed Operation Rio Shallow that was conducted in Corpus Christi, led by HSI.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie K. Hampton, Southern District of Texas, prosecuted the case.

ICE and HSI Gang Specialists Train Royal Bahamas Anti-Gang Unit

Over the past couple years, law enforcement agencies across the globe have seen a steady rise in transnational organized gangs. To tackle this growing problem in the Bahamas, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations' (HSI) National Gang Unit recently led a workshop to train officers with the Royal Bahamas Police Force's newest anti-gang unit.

Modeled after U.S.-based gang task forces, the Royal Bahamas Police Force is in the process of standing up its first anti-gang unit. Early in this process the Bahamian police force looked to HSI's National Gang Unit for guidance, knowledge and techniques. After multiple discussions and an on-site visit to determine the Bahamian police force's specific needs, the HSI gang unit created a customized 24-hour curriculum to share best practices and strategies, as well as to build upon the Bahamian force's existing knowledge.

"While we have trained anti-gang units in Mexico, this is the first time we've developed an anti-gang course for the Royal Bahamas Police Force," said Alvin DeLaRosa, program manager for HSI's National Gang Unit. "It took about five months to come to fruition, but we're glad to have another partner to take on these international criminals."

The four-day training, held the last week of September, brought together gang experts from HSI, the FBI, the Organized Crime and Gang Unit of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington, D.C., and the Bahamian equivalent of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Vetted Royal Bahamas Police Force officers learned about recognizing gangs, gathering intelligence and evidence, analyzing intelligence, types of smuggling, interview techniques, and prosecution strategies.
During the training's opening remarks, Bahamian National Security Minister Bernard Nottage noted that the "serious threat" these "well organized and sophisticated" gangs are posing to his country.

"We have come to pool our ideas on ways to eliminate or control the proliferation of gang violence or gang-type violence in our communities," Nottage said.

DeLaRosa noted that in the Bahamas, these gangs resort to whatever tactics, including homicide, they need to in order to survive, to traffic drugs and to smuggle guns.

"Organized gangs are not confined to our borders," added DeLaRosa. "It's a worldwide epidemic, and a growing problem in the Bahamas. Working together we can dismantle transnational gangs to ensure public safety in the region."

Next week, HSI's National Gang Unit is scheduled to conduct similar training in Anguilla, British West Indies.

JBS USA becomes Latest Member of ICE IMAGE Program

JBS USA Holdings Inc., (JBS USA) one of the largest meat processing companies in the United States, is the newest member of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) nationwide program designed to encourage businesses to collaborate with ICE and use hiring best practices to ensure they are maintaining a lawful workforce.

JBS USA Chief Executive Officer Don Jackson and ICE Director John Morton signed the IMAGE, or "ICE Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers," agreement during a ceremony Wednesday, October 3, 2012, at ICE headquarters. JBS USA is a leading processor of beef, pork and lamb in the United States, with more than 65,000 employees.

"ICE's collaboration with JBS USA reinforces this administration's commitment to working with industry to encourage a culture of compliance with U.S. employment laws," said Director Morton. "ICE is proud to be partnering with the company in this significant effort to protect our nation's lawful workforce."

"Today is an exciting day for JBS and serves as recognition of the considerable time, effort and financial resources we have invested in creating a top-flight workforce compliance culture," said Don Jackson, President and CEO, JBS USA. "It is also a testament to the tremendous commitment of our 65,000 employees, without whom this opportunity would not have been possible. Through our voluntary partnership with the government, it is my expectation that we will continue to raise the bar for compliance in our industry and beyond, and remain worthy of the status that IMAGE partnership confers."

IMAGE is a voluntary program that allows businesses to partner with ICE as part of their efforts to maintain an authorized workforce and protect themselves from the use of fraudulent identity documents by current or prospective employees. This program compliments ICE's worksite enforcement strategy, which focuses on holding employers accountable who knowingly hire unauthorized workers to minimize operating costs and boost profits.

Undocumented workers create vulnerabilities in today's marketplace by presenting false documents to gain employment, complete applications for fraudulent benefits, and steal identities of legal U.S. workers. To combat this, ICE initiated the IMAGE program in 2006.

All IMAGE members must participate in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) E-Verify employment eligibility verification program. Through this program, employers can verify that newly hired employees are eligible to work in the United States. This Internet-based system is available throughout the nation and is free to employers. It provides an automated link to the Social Security Administration database and DHS immigration records.

Upon completion of IMAGE program requirements, program participants are deemed "IMAGE certified," a distinction DHS and ICE believe will become an industry standard. IMAGE also provides employers with free training on the Form I-9, fraudulent document detection, and how to build a solid immigration compliance model.

Operation Bitter Pill Shuts Down 686 Counterfeit Pharmaceutical Websites

In the largest operation of its kind, 100 countries took part in an international week of action targeting the online sale of counterfeit and illegal medicines. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), in coordination with the Department of Justice, seized 686 websites the week ending in October 5, 2012, that were illegally selling counterfeit pharmaceuticals.

The seizures were part of Project Bitter Pill, the current effort under of Operation In Our Sites (IOS). Bitter Pill was part of the INTERPOL-led Operation Pangea V.

A global enforcement effort, Pangea is an annual operation aimed at disrupting the organized crime networks behind the illicit online sale of fake drugs. Worldwide, preliminary results show Pangea has accounted for 79 arrests and the seizure of 3.7 million doses of potentially life-threatening counterfeit medicines worth an estimated value of $10.5 million.

Additionally, approximately 18,000 websites engaged in illegal sale of counterfeit drugs were taken down.

During Pangea V, which ran from Sept. 25 to Oct. 2, operations were conducted in Europe and throughout the United States at websites linked to the illegal Internet supply of medicines. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) intercepted packages that were believed to contain fake or illicit drugs. Various payment processing companies supported the operation by identifying and blocking payments connected to illicit online pharmacies, identifying individuals responsible for sending spam emails and identifying abuse of electronic payment systems.

"These international partnerships are essential in the global fight against the trafficking of counterfeit drugs," said ICE Director John Morton. "Instead of taking potentially life-saving medicines, customers are duped into purchasing drugs that are fake or untested and could ultimately do them more harm than good."

Pangea is coordinated by INTERPOL, the World Customs Organization, the Permanent Forum of International Pharmaceutical Crime, the Heads of Medicines Agencies Working Group of Enforcement Officers, Pharmaceutical Security Institute, and Europol. For the first time, Pangea was also supported by the Center for Safe Internet Pharmacies which brings together 12 of the world's leading Internet and e-commerce companies.

"When someone is sick, can't afford to purchase expensive medicine or is just trying to save money, they are more likely to take a chance and buy medicines online, making themselves vulnerable to purchasing fake, illicit or spurious medical products and thus harming themselves," said INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble. "Organized, sophisticated criminals and rogue pharmacies are unfortunately using the Internet to defraud innocent consumers, to place them in harm's way, to steal their identities and to engage in credit card fraud."

The goals of this operation were to disrupt the illegal distribution of medicines and to raise public awareness about the significant health risks associated with buying medicines online and the increased risk of becoming a victim of identity and credit card fraud.

Bitter Pill, the U.S. operation, was managed by the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center), including HSI Baltimore, CBP, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, and the Computer Crime Intellectual Property Section of the Department of Justice Criminal Division. The Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation also participated in Pangea and supported Bitter Pill.

"Interdiction of illegal pharmaceuticals is one of CBP's top priorities," said CBP Deputy Commissioner David V. Aguilar. "The rise of Internet pharmaceutical sale sites has resulted in increases of imported packages containing illegal medications, which is a risk to U.S. consumers. CBP is proud to be a part of this effort."

IOS is a sustained law enforcement initiative that began two years ago to protect consumers by targeting the sale of counterfeit merchandise on the Internet. Those websites are now shut down and their domain names are in the custody of the federal government. Visitors to the websites will find a seizure banner that notifies them that the domain name has been seized by federal authorities and educates them about the federal crime of trafficking in counterfeit goods.

The 686 domain names seized during Bitter Pill bring the total number of IOS domain names seized in the last two years to 1,525. The domain names are subject to forfeiture under federal laws that afford individuals who have an interest in the seized domain names a period of time after the "Notice of Seizure" to file a petition with a federal court and additional time after the "Notice of Forfeiture" to contest the forfeiture. If no petitions or claims are filed, the domain names become property of the U.S. government.

During this project, HSI special agents made undercover purchases of counterfeit drugs from multiple websites. The counterfeit drugs seized during Bitter Pill included anti-cancer medication, antibiotics and erectile dysfunction pills as well as weight loss and food supplements. Investigations are ongoing as special agents continue to connect shipments and websites with organized criminal networks.

The IPR Center is one of the U.S. government's key weapons in the fight against criminal counterfeiting, piracy and commercial fraud. As a task force, the IPR Center uses the expertise of its 21-member agencies to share information, develop initiatives, coordinate enforcement actions and conduct investigations related to IP theft and commercial fraud. Through this strategic interagency partnership, the IPR Center protects the public's health and safety, the U.S. economy and our war fighters.

Peruvian Man Sentenced for Smuggling Two Kilograms of Cocaine

A Peruvian man was sentenced Monday, October 1, 2012, in U.S. District Court to 30 months in prison for smuggling more than two kilograms of cocaine, with a street value of over $250,000 into the United States from Lima, Peru. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Heber Razuri-Leon, 47, was sentenced Monday, October 1, 2012, by U.S. District Judge Esther Salas to 30 months in federal prison to be followed by deportation to Peru. In addition Razuri-Leon was ordered to forfeit more than $12,000 to the United States.

According to court records, on December 22, 2011, Razuri-Leon arrived at Newark Liberty International Airport en route to Japan, on a Continental Airlines flight from Lima. Razuri-Leon was selected for a routine secondary examination by CBP officers, who discovered a pair of flip-flop sandals that felt heavy. They probed the sandals and found a white powdery substance, which field tested positive for cocaine.

CBP officers then discovered several deflated soccer balls, which also felt heavy. They probed the soccer balls and found a white powdery substance inside the balls, which also field tested positive for cocaine. In total, the cocaine found inside of Razuri-Leon's suitcase weighed approximately 2.24 kilograms.

Razuri-Leon pleaded guilty July 2, 2012, to the charge of conspiring and agreeing with others to import 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing cocaine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rahul Agarwal, District of New Jersey, prosecuted the case.

HSI and CBP Agents Featured on New TV Series "To Catch a Smuggler"

It's the stuff television shows are made of – special agents and officers apprehending and interrogating smugglers who try to sneak drugs and other contraband into the United States.

In a new National Geographic television series, viewers go behind the scenes with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport as they uncover this criminal activity.

In this new television series, "To Catch a Smuggler," which premieres Monday, Oct. 8 at 9 p.m. EST/PT on the National Geographic Channel, cameras stay rolling throughout the entire investigative process. Viewers go into the interview room with HSI's JFK Narcotics Smuggling Unit as they identify, search and question smugglers.

Ranked as one of the busiest hubs for international travel, JFK International Airport is a hot spot for criminal activity.

"Each year, HSI special agents and CBP officers seize kilos of cocaine, crystal meth, heroin and other illicit drugs, worth millions of dollars, that criminals try to smuggle through JFK," said Brian Hale, director of ICE's Office of Public Affairs.

While watching the show, viewers will see how criminals, intent on smuggling different types of contraband into the United States, use varying tactics in an effort to trip up the special agents and officers.

"'To Catch a Smuggler' highlights our agency's important mission to protect the American public and the dedicated work of our employees" Hale said.

HSI is the largest investigative body in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and has a vast mission. Its special agents investigate the smuggling of narcotics, humans, weapons and other types of illicit contraband, as well as immigration crime, human rights violations, financial crimes, cybercrime and export enforcement issues.

"We are very excited to be a part of this new series," Hale said. "It truly shows federal law enforcement partnerships in action."

New Jersey Defense Contractor Convicted for Sharing U.S. Military Technology with China

On Thursday, September 20, 2012, a federal jury convicted a former employee of a New Jersey-based defense contractor of exporting sensitive U.S. military technology to China, stealing trade secrets and lying to federal agents. The joint case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Sixing Liu, aka "Steve Liu," 49, a Chinese national, who had recently lived in Flanders, N.J., and Deerfield, Ill., was taken into custody following the verdict, based on risk of flight considerations. He is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 7, 2013 before U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler.

"Exporting military weapons and technical data, and the theft of sensitive technology in violation of the Arms Export Control Act, are serious crimes with global consequences," Andrew McLees, special agent in charge of HSI Newark, said. "Illegal foreign procurement networks continue to threaten our safety and this conviction reinforces that HSI has no tolerance for those who try to undermine our nation's safety and security."

"The jury found that in order to promote himself, Liu took highly sensitive defense information and trade secrets to China, violating the rules of his company and the laws of this country, and then lied about it upon his return to the United States," District of New Jersey U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman said. "We will not tolerate the exploitation of this country's opportunities through the theft of our secrets."

"This specific investigation is troubling on many levels," FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward said. "Mr. Liu helped develop technology critical to our military, then took a computer with that information on an unauthorized trip to China to present at a conference sponsored by the Chinese government. The United States spends billions of dollars each year on research and development, and this ‘intellectual capital' is very attractive to others. If they are able to acquire this research, they can save billions and quickly develop their own products to compete against the United States, be it in the world economic market or on the battlefield."

Robert E. Perez, director of field operations for CBP New York, said, "This arrest demonstrates the determination of Customs and Border Protection's frontline officers, who work closely with our law enforcement partners to safeguard the American public from potential threats."

The jury convicted Liu of nine of the 11 counts in the second superseding indictment with which he was charged, including six counts of violating the Arms Export Control Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, one count of possessing stolen trade secrets in violation of the Economic Espionage Act of 1996, one count of transporting stolen property in interstate commerce and one count of lying to federal agents. The jury acquitted Liu on two counts of lying to federal agents.

According to court documents, in 2010, Liu stole thousands of electronic files from his employer, L-3 Communications, Space and Navigation Division, located in Budd Lake, N.J. The stolen files detailed the performance and design of guidance systems for missiles, rockets, target locators and unmanned aerial vehicles. Liu stole the files to position and prepare himself for future employment in China. As part of that plan, Liu delivered presentations about the technology at several Chinese universities, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and conferences organized by Chinese government entities. However, Liu was not charged with any crimes related to those presentations.

On Nov. 12, 2010, Liu boarded a flight from Newark Liberty International Airport to China. Upon his return to the United States Nov. 29, 2010, agents found Liu in possession of a non-work-issued computer found to contain the stolen material. The following day, Liu lied to agents of the Department of Homeland Security about the extent of his work on U.S. defense technology, which the jury found to be a criminal false statement.

The U.S. Department of State's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls later verified that several of the stolen files on Liu's computer contained export-controlled technical data that relates to defense items listed on the United States Munitions List (USML). Under federal regulations, items and data covered by the USML may not be exported without a license, which Liu did not obtain. The regulations also provide that it is the policy of the United States to deny licenses to export items and data covered by the USML to countries with which the United States maintains an arms embargo, including China.

The jury heard testimony that Liu's company trained him about the United States' export control laws and told him that most of the company's products were covered by those laws.
After the verdict, Judge Chesler ordered Liu taken into custody, citing the penalties Liu faces, his ties to China and the lack of an extradition treaty with China, among other reasons.

Liu faces the following maximum penalties, per count:

·                             Export violations – 20 years in prison; $1 million fine,

·                             Stolen trade secrets violation – 10 years in prison; $250,000 fine,

·                             Interstate transportation of stolen property – 10 years in prison; $250,000 fine, and

·                             False statement – five years in prison; $250,000 fine.

On Duty Government Officer Arrested with 9.7 lbs of Marijuana

A state government employee is in federal custody after his arrest Wednesday, September 26, 2012, on a drug charge. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents are investigating the case.

Saul Velasco, 37, of Alamogordo, N.M., is charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana. He was arrested Sept. 26 at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol checkpoint on U.S. Highway 70 west of Alamogordo.

According to court documents, Border Patrol agents found 9.7 pounds of marijuana in the state government vehicle Velasco was driving. As New Mexico juvenile probation officer, Velasco was on official duty when he was arrested.

There were 10 bundles of marijuana in a gym bag inside Velasco's vehicle, according to court documents. He allegedly paid $2,500 for the nearly 10 pounds of marijuana from a man whom he met near a restaurant on U.S. Highway 54, north of El Paso, Texas.

Velasco had his initial appearance in federal court Thursday, September 27, 2012, in Las Cruces; he was scheduled for a preliminary and detention hearing Friday, September 28, 2012. HSI special agents assigned to the Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) in Las Cruces continue to investigate the case.

BEST is a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ICE-led initiative that operates along the U.S.-Mexico border. BEST in Las Cruces was formed in June 2009, and is one of 32 BEST teams with locations around the U.S. and Mexico. HSI is charged with enforcing a wide array of immigration and customs laws, including those related to securing the border and combating criminal smuggling.

Las Cruces BEST members include the following law enforcement agencies: HSI, ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), CBP's Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Doña Ana Sheriff's Office.

BEST members are co-located so that they can effectively share information among their partner agencies. Close coordination among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies helps to identify and eliminate cross-border criminal organizations and the infrastructures that sustain them.