A
former Passaic County man who has been a fugitive since 2009 made his initial
court appearance Friday, February 8, 2013. The investigation leading to his
apprehension was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE)
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Kujtim
Lika, 47, formerly of Passaic County, N.J., appeared in Newark Federal Court
Friday, February 8, 2013, to face numerous charges, including narcotics and
firearms trafficking, money laundering, interstate transportation of stolen
property, and criminal conspiracy. According
to court documents, three years ago, 26 individuals were charged – including
Lika – with multiple crimes in connection with an investigation into several
loosely connected Balkan criminal enterprises operating throughout New Jersey, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Canada, and the Netherlands. The arrests were part
of a federal joint operation that began in 2003. Lika's
case was featured on the television program "America's Most Wanted." He was
subsequently apprehended May 24, 2012, by the Toronto Police Department/Toronto
Task Force in Canada.
He had been using the alias, "Dashamir Cela" at the time of his
arrest. He
was detained without bail. The
charges and allegations against Lika are merely accusations, and the defendant
is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
On Wednesday, February 13, 2013, federal authorities shut down a just-completed, cross-border drug smuggling tunnel and seized more than 1,200 pounds of marijuana following a multi-agency investigation by the Nogales Tunnel Task Force, with significant assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol in Nogales.
Officers with the Tunnel Task Force, which is led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), were conducting surveillance in Nogales around noon and observed a van in a parking lot at the south end of Nelson Avenue, approximately 200 yards east of the Morley Pedestrian Gate. After noticing suspicious activity, the investigators approached the van, which was loaded with marijuana bundles. Two men near the van attempted to flee on foot, but were apprehended by task force officers not far from the tunnel and taken into custody.
Task force officers seized 22 bundles of marijuana from the van and 29 bundles of marijuana from inside the tunnel, weighing a total of 1,210 pounds.
The crude, hand-dug tunnel is approximately 68-feet-long and averages approximately two feet wide. The passageway does not contain any wooden shoring, ventilation or electrical equipment. The tunnel location closely parallels a March 2012, drug tunnel discovered in the same location. The tunnel entrance is located in the front yard of a private residence in Nogales, Mexico, and runs for approximately 26-feet underground before passing under the international boundary and running 42-feet on the U.S. side of the border. The tunnel exits on an embankment at the south end of Nelson Avenue.
Mexican authorities responded to the area and secured the tunnel entrance in Mexico. The tunnel will be guarded by Border Patrol agents until it is rendered unusable. The investigation remains ongoing, but investigators believe the tunnel had just been completed early Wednesday, February 13, 2013.
"Members of the Tunnel Task Force each bring unique capabilities from their respective agencies, which greatly enhances our ability to identify and interdict drug tunnels," said Eric Balliet, assistant special agent in charge of HSI Nogales. "In this case, the task force developed information that a tunnel was being excavated in the area. Through the diligence and hard work of all the participating agencies, we were able to shut this tunnel down just as it was completed, stopping its very first load of drugs."
In the last three years, federal authorities have discovered and shut down 26 completed cross-border smuggling tunnels in the Nogales area.
The Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) is an HSI-led, multi-agency U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) initiative to identify, disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations that seek to exploit vulnerabilities along U.S. borders. There are currently 34 BEST units deployed across the country, covering major seaports and southern and northern border regions. BEST units are composed of more than 750 law enforcement officers from more than 100 federal, state, local, tribal, and foreign law enforcement and intelligence resources.
BEST Nogales Tunnel Task Force is composed of full time members from HSI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Border Patrol, Nogales Police Department, the Santa Cruz County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. BEST Nogales Tunnel Task Force is responsible for identifying, investigating and eliminating illicit subterranean tunnels in one of the nation's busiest border areas with Mexico and combating the Transnational Criminal Organizations that finance, build and use them.
A
Kingsville, Texas, man was found guilty Monday, February 4, 2013, of conspiracy
to possess with the intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana,
announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. This
conviction resulted from an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and
Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the
Kingsville Narcotics Task Force. Michael
"Mickey" Pena, 45, was found guilty by a federal jury for
participating in a drug trafficking organization that transported large amounts
of marijuana concealed in the hulls of altered shallow-bottom fishing boats.
The marijuana was transported via the intracoastal waterway from Port Mansfield
to Corpus Christi to circumvent Border Patrol
checkpoints in Falfurrias and Serta,
Texas. The federal jury returned
their verdict in Corpus Christi
after deliberating only 30 minutes following the trial that lasted less than a
day. "Drug
smugglers seek the path of least resistance," said Brian M. Moskowitz,
special agent in charge of HSI Houston. "The great collaborative work of
our special agents and law enforcement partners in this case should give pause
to trafficking organizations who seek to exploit our coastal waters to move
illegal drugs into this country." Court
testimony revealed that in early 2012, drug trafficking organization members
deconstructed a 21-foot Dargel Scout fishing boat over 20 days. The hull of the
vessel was then loaded with more than 1,100 pounds of marijuana, and the deck
of the boat was rebuilt. The boat was then launched in Port Mansfield and
co-defendant Rogelio Mendoza drove it north. Marine interdiction agents with
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) intercepted the vessel just south of Corpus Christi. Subsequent
investigation by HSI revealed that Pena arrived at marker 37 with an empty boat
trailer shortly after the boat was intercepted and had registered the vessel in
his name two weeks earlier. Certified state documents showed that the previous
owner of both the boat and the empty trailer were members of the drug
trafficking organization. Special agents also testified that they had conducted
surveillance of organization members scouting boat ramps near marker 37 about
six weeks before the seizure and then immediately drove to Pena's Kingsville residence. Mendoza,
37, and five other members of the conspiracy had previously pleaded guilty
before U.S. district judges
in Corpus Christi
and have been or are awaiting sentencing. Those drug trafficking members
include: Alberto Lopez, aka Alberto Lopez-Reyna, 39, Lombardo Zarate, 49, Glen
Dial, 56, Luz Ramirez, 25, and Hector Perez-Gonzalez, 39. Senior
U.S. District Judge Janis Graham Jack, who presided over the trial, has set
sentencing for April 17, at which time Pena will face a minimum of five and up
to 40 years in prison, as well as a possible $5 million fine, and a substantial
money judgment. Pena will remain in custody pending sentencing. Assistant
U.S. Attorney Jeffrey D. Preston, Southern District of Texas, prosecuted the
case.
Semi-submersibles,
ultralight planes, rigged cars, underground tunnels, and catapults; these are
just some of the devious methods used by drug smugglers to get their products
across our borders. It is this kind of diabolically inventive thinking that the
special agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland
Security Investigations (HSI) must contend with every day. In
the premiere episode of Extreme Smuggling, which aired Monday, January 14, 2013
on the Discovery Channel, former smugglers, law enforcement and military
professionals gave first-hand accounts of their experiences in the ongoing war
against the drug trade. Future episodes will explore the extremes to
which criminals will go in their efforts to smuggle everything from narcotics
to exotic animals, and the people whose job it is to stop them. Tune in every
Monday at 8/7c through February 4th for new episodes of Extreme Smuggling. Episodes
will be repeated throughout the week. Check your local listings for times.
A
Snohomish County methamphetamine dealer was sentenced to nine years in prison
and five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute controlled
substances and counterfeiting. The
Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation
designated "Operation Black ICE" was led by U.S. Immigration and
Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the Drug
Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives; and the Snohomish Police Department. Christopher
Frick, 38, was arrested in March 2012 and pleaded guilty October 2012 to the
charges. Court records say Frick came to the attention of authorities in 2011
when they caught him on court authorized wiretaps arranging drug deals during
the investigation of the Berrelleza-Verduzco drug trafficking organization. At
the time, Frick was already being investigated by the U.S. Secret Service for
using a counterfeit $50 bill that he made by altering a $5 bill. A search of
his Monroe, Wash.,
residence following his arrest turned up methamphetamine and counterfeit U.S.
currency. According to prosecutors, Frick has more than 30 prior convictions,
ranging from burglary and drug possession to vehicle theft and forgery and
fraud. Operation
Black ICE resulted in 34 indictments, and the seizure of more than 20 pounds of
heroin, more than 30 pounds of methamphetamine, nearly $200,000 and 31 firearms
- including 10 assault rifles. Frick is one of the first defendants in this
case to plead guilty and be sentenced. The others are scheduled for trial
later this year. The
investigation was assisted by OCDETF member agencies, including the Seattle,
Lake Stevens, Everett, Monroe and Marysville police departments; the Eastside
Narcotics Task Force; the Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force; the Skagit County
Inter-local Drug Enforcement Unit; the Snohomish County Sheriff's Department;
the Washington State Patrol; and U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Offices
of Field Operations and Border Patrol. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S.
Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington.
On
Monday, January 7, 2013, a Niagara Falls, N.Y., man pleaded guilty before U.S. District
Judge Richard J. Arcara to conspiracy to possess, with the intent to
distribute, 100 kilograms of marijuana. The man faces up to 40 years in prison
and a $2 million fine. Wally
Reynolds, 36, supervised other individuals in a drug conspiracy who imported
marijuana from Canada into
the United States.
The defendant then distributed the marijuana to his customers in the United States. The
plea is the result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Sentencing
is scheduled for May 6 before Judge Arcara.
Two complaints were filed Thursday, December 13, 2012, charging two Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) deputies and two Mission Police Department (MPD) officers with a drug trafficking conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas.
MPD officer Alexis Espinoza, 29, of Alamo, was arrested Wednesday, December 12, 2012, and made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dorina Ramos Thursday, December 13, 2012. A decision on his bond has not yet been determined by the court.
A second complaint was filed Thursday, December 13, 2012, charging MPD officer Jonathan Trevino, 28, of McAllen; Fabian Rodriguez, 28, of Edinburg, and Gerardo Duran, 30, of Pharr, both with HCSO. They were arrested Thursday, December 13, 2012, and appeared before Judge Ramos Friday, December 14, 2012.
According to court records, in early 2012 agents learned that members of HCSO's Panama Unit were involved in distributing narcotics. The Panama Unit is a task force designed to target narcotics trafficking in HidalgoCounty, and is comprised of law enforcement officers from HCSO and MPD.
This investigation revealed that members of the Panama Unit, including Trevino, Espinoza, Rodriguez and Duran, allegedly used their law enforcement positions to escort and protect loads of smuggled narcotics; and they were paid for their services.
The case is being investigated by the following agencies: the Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and ICE's Office of Professional Responsibility, the FBI, the Texas Rangers, and the Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anibal Alanis and James Sturgis, Southern District of Texas, are prosecuting the case.
Following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a Canadian man was sentenced to eight years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to import large amounts of ecstasy pills into the United States.
James Elliott, 62, of Windsor, Ontario, was sentenced Thursday, December 6, 2012, in federal court to eight years in prison.
"HSI will not tolerate the illegal movement of drugs into the United States," said John Kelleghan, special agent in charge of HSI Philadelphia. "HSI stopped these criminals, who are motivated by greed, from distributing large quantities of illegal drugs in our community and endangering the welfare of our citizens."
Elliott helped recruit and organize a group of smugglers, mostly from the Windsor area, who imported large quantities of drugs into the United States. These drugs were manufactured in Canada by Asian drug trafficking organizations. These organizations then hired Elliott and his couriers to transport the drugs to other drug dealers across the United States. Elliott's conduct came to light in September 2007 when two couriers were stopped in Philadelphia and law enforcement officers seized 102,000 ecstasy pills which the couriers had attempted to distribute to drug dealers in Philadelphia and Boston.
Eastern District of Pennsylvania Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Livermore prosecuted the case.
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- M.C. Law Group Attorney Alex Meyerovich spoke out recently against the rise of human trafficking, also known as "modern day slavery," in the United States.
Reported cases of human trafficking have risen 60% in 2011 compared to 2010, according to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (HTRS). In fact, reported cases of human trafficking have been steadily increasing for the last five years. Attorney Meyerovich offered a simple explanation for this increase in human trafficking during a recent interview with Connecticut News12.
"Human trafficking is a lucrative business. It generates billions," said Attorney Meyerovich of the industry.
Human trafficking occurs when a victim is held hostage and forced to work against their will. Victims are commonly coerced into becoming commercial sex workers, drug traffickers, or laborers in unregulated industries. Additionally, these victims are often held in deplorable conditions, and suffer physical and sexual abuse.
Local attorneys like Meyerovich are speaking out alongside lawmakers to raise awareness about this prolific, but often unnoticed, human rights issue. In fact, Senator Richard Blumenthal recently joined with Senator Robert Portman of Ohio to co-chair the Senate Caucus to End Human Trafficking. The caucus will provide a platform for its thirteen members to combat human trafficking and promote increased awareness about this serious issue.
"This kind of modern day slavery is intolerable," Senator Blumenthal told Connecticut News 12. "These people are treated as inhuman."
Human trafficking goes unnoticed by most citizens because victims are often hidden in plain sight. Traffickers prey on society's most vulnerable, targeting children and young girls, disabled individuals, and illegal immigrants. These vulnerable victims are not likely to seek help for fear of retribution: if they attempt to escape or alert authorities, they suffer horrific abuse and threats of violence -- or worse.
"If they don't obey, they're likely to be killed," Meyerovich said of the impossible situation these victims are placed in.
Attorney Meyerovich, whose firm specializes in immigration law, knows how particularly susceptible illegal immigrants are to human traffickers. Meyerovich explained that immigrants pay alien smugglers exorbitant fees to be brought into the U.S. illegally. Once they arrive, the smugglers demand additional payment for their services, which immigrants cannot afford. They are then coerced into forced labor to repay their "debts," and are held hostage indefinitely. Victims are constantly intimidated with threats of being reported to immigration enforcement, and even the murder of themselves and their loved ones.
"These immigrants risk everything for a better life in the U.S., and instead are forced to endure a nightmare of unimaginable abuse when they arrive," said Attorney Meyerovich. "They are scared, often don't speak English, and have no knowledge that U.S. immigration laws protect victims of human trafficking, regardless of their legal status."
However, U.S. citizens are just as vulnerable to being forced into labor in their own country. While HTRS reports 70% of labor trafficking victims are undocumented immigrants, 80% of sex trafficking victims are U.S. citizens.
"Most American citizens would react with fury and outrage if they knew about it," Senator Blumenthal commented.
Local attorneys like Meyerovich and prominent lawmakers like Senator Blumenthal hope that increased awareness about human trafficking will help turn the tide against modern day slavery. To learn more about human trafficking, including how to recognize victims and report suspected cases, visit the NationalHumanTraffickingResourceCenter. To learn more about Senator Blumenthal's involvement in the Senate Caucus to End Human Trafficking, visit his official website.
To watch the full interview featuring Attorney Meyerovich and Senator Blumenthal, watch the video below.
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 GrandeValley 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.
The U.S. government has delivered a check to the Bailiwick of Jersey, a United Kingdom Crown Dependency, for $2 million. The check was turned over to the attorney general for Jersey Monday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) London attaché.
The payment recognizes the law enforcement assistance and support that Jersey provided the U.S. government beginning in 2004 when U.S. authorities identified over $8 million believed to be the proceeds of a Colombian drug trafficking cartel in a bank account at BBVA Privanza Bank in Jersey.
U.S. authorities had tracked these funds through various jurisdictions, and attempts to freeze them as they passed through the Cayman Islands and Switzerland had been unsuccessful. In April 2004, the Jersey Law Officers' Department succeeded in obtaining a "freezing order."
More than $8 million was forfeited under a settlement agreement between the account holder and U.S. authorities.
"I am pleased to share the forfeited proceeds of an illicit enterprise with the Bailiwick of Jersey for their efforts in this investigation," said Matthew J. Etre, HSI London attaché. "With equitable asset sharing like this, law enforcement agencies on both sides of the Atlantic are turning the tables on the bad guys. We simply take their illegal profits and invest them in law enforcement efforts. On behalf of HSI and the U.S. government, I look forward to continuing our strong partnership with the Bailiwick of Jersey – along with our other law enforcement partners throughout the world – in disrupting and dismantling criminal organizations that support drug trafficking."
A South Carolina man and former captain in the U.S. Army, pleaded guilty to charges of importing heroin and possession with the intent to distribute the drug. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations Division and the Wilmington Police Department.
Saleem Sharif, 36, of Johns Island, S.C., pleaded guilty to the charges. Each charge carries a maximum term of 40 years in prison. Sharif is scheduled to be sentenced January 15, 2013.
"This joint investigation is a terrific example of how law enforcement, with support from our partners abroad, were able to successfully dismantle this narcotics smuggling network," said John P. Kelleghan, special agent in charge of HSI Philadelphia. "HSI will continue to utilize its broad authorities to target those individuals that pose direct threats to our communities."
According to court documents, Sharif, a U.S. Military Academy graduate, admitted that he imported into the country at least 2.5 kilograms of heroin from Afghanistan while employed there as a contractor. Sharif concealed the heroin in DVD cases, each case containing approximately 2.5 ounces of heroin.
One of Sharif's customers was Darrold Thomas. Thomas, who pleaded guilty to a drug trafficking offense August 9, 2012, lived in Killeen, Texas. During his plea hearing, Thomas admitted that on two occasions he sold heroin directly to several individuals from the Wilmington area. Thomas stated that he sold approximately five ounces of heroin to Kelvin Cook in Killeen, Texas, in the summer of 2010. Thomas sold the heroin, which was concealed in two DVD cases, for $5,000.
Thomas also admitted he sold approximately 500 grams of heroin to Ronaldo Edmund and Kevin Morris in Washington, D.C., in December 2010. Thomas sold the heroin, which was packaged in several DVD cases, for $30,000. Edmund and Morris have each pleaded guilty to drug trafficking offenses in the District of Delaware.
In addition to heroin transactions with Cook, Edmund and Morris, Thomas also admitted that he directed the shipment of approximately 210 grams of heroin, which he had received from Sharif, to a DEA confidential source at an address in Newark, Del., in September 2011. The heroin was concealed in a DVD case and located within the false bottom of a can of oil.
Ultimately, Thomas placed the source in direct contact with Sharif. On April 27, 2012, Sharif and co-defendant Charles Richardson traveled to Wilmington to meet with the source. They were arrested while meeting with the individual in a vehicle outside the Amtrak train station. In a later search, agents found two DVD cases that contained heroin – one in a bag belonging to Sharif, and another in a bag belonging to Richardson. The total net weight of the heroin was approximately 115 grams.
Following his arrest, Sharif admitted to traveling to Delaware to sell the heroin to the source. He also admitted that he imported heroin into the U.S. during his time in Afghanistan.
Sharif is the 15th individual charged in connection with the Wilmington-based drug organization to enter a guilty plea. Eleven defendants have entered guilty pleas in the United States District Court, District of Delaware, while four other defendants have entered guilty pleas in the United States District Court, Southern District of Texas. Six other individuals remain in custody in Panama.
Six men pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday, September 6, 2012, as a result of the efforts of a multi-agency investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas.
The defendants were arrested in June on charges relating to their participation in a large-scale south Texas drug-trafficking organization. The criminal organization employing the defendants specialized in avoiding the Falfurrias Border Patrol checkpoint by crossing through ranches adjacent to the checkpoint.
The following men from south Texas each entered guilty pleas before U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos Sept. 6: Jesus Marroquin, 49, of Rio Grande City; Alejandro Garza, 42, of Mission; Adrian De la Garza, 41, of Sullivan City; and Rene Salazar, 42, Jose Figueroa, 35, and Edwardo Munoz, 35, all of Falfurrias. Garza and Marroquin were identified as leaders in this criminal organization.
Garza, Marroquin, Salazar and De la Garza pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) of marijuana. Based upon the amount of the marijuana involved, they face no less than 10 years and a maximum of life imprisonment. Figueroa and Munoz were also convicted of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, which carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment.
In addition, Garza agreed to criminally forfeit several firearms; Marroquin agreed to forfeit 145 pieces of expensive jewelry, worth about $25,000.
Sentencing has been set for Dec. 4. With the exception of De la Garza and Salazar, who were released on bond, all have been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
The following agencies assisted with this investigation: Internal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigation; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Texas Department of Public Safety; Brooks County Sheriff's Office; U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Border Patrol; and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie K. Hampton, Southern District of Texas, prosecuted the case.
A Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organizations (RICO) indictment was unsealed Tuesday, August 21, 2012, charging individuals with participating in a massive racketeering organization.
These charges stem from an investigation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with the assistance of the New York City Police Department (NYPD).
The 40-count RICO indictment charges nine individuals with participating in the "Rodriguez Enterprise," a massive racketeering organization whose members allegedly sold large quantities of marijuana; engaged in murders and other violent acts; transported and laundered millions of dollars; obstructed justice and committed perjury; and engaged in firearms offenses. The RICO indictment was filed in connection with "Operation Green Venom," a coordinated multi-agency investigation that was led by HSI and first announced in October 2010.
"This organization allegedly placed their goal of profiting from the mass distribution of narcotics throughout New York City above all else, most importantly the regard for human life," said James T. Hayes Jr., special agent in charge of HSI New York. "Today's announcement should serve as a reminder that law enforcement collaboration to combat narcotics trafficking and distribution is greater than ever."
"This indictment illustrates the grim nexus between illegal drug sales, money laundering and deadly violence," said Raymond W. Kelly, commissioner of the NYPD. "We remain committed to working with our federal law enforcement partners to continue our efforts to rid the city of these violent criminals."
"As alleged, these nine defendants were part of a sweeping enterprise that has the blood of six people on its hands and that trafficked in tons of marijuana, laundered millions of dollars and obstructed justice," said U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, Southern District of New York. "Thanks to the continued dedication and commitment of our law enforcement partners, we are now able to bring them to justice."
The following allegations are based on the RICO indictment unsealed Tuesday, August 21, 2012, in Manhattan federal court:
Manuel Geovanny Rodriguez-Perez (Manuel Rodriguez) is the leader of the Rodriguez Enterprise. He is charged with five murders and five attempted murders, including the murders of the following victims:
·Oct. 26, 1997: Francisco Perez, aka Francie;
·Dec. 13, 1998: Antonio Kasse, aka Toasty;
·2000: first and last name unknown, aka Carlos Valentin, aka Campi;
·May 3, 2004: Wilfredo Molina, aka Willie; and
·Jan. 16, 2006: Richard Cabrera, aka Bori.
Other charges against Manuel Rodriguez include: trafficking in marijuana from 1992 through 2010; laundering money in New York, Florida and the Dominican Republic; perjury; obstruction of justice; and firearms charges. Manuel Rodriguez has been in federal custody since Oct. 15, 2010.
Orlando Rodriguez – Manuel Rodriguez's younger brother – is also charged with the murder of Carlos Valentin; an attempted murder in 1996; as well as racketeering, marijuana trafficking and money laundering. Orlando Rodriguez was arrested in the Dominican Republic Aug. 16, 2012, and is detained pending his extradition.
Felipe Cantres-Sanjurjo (Felipe Cantres) is charged with the murders of Wilfredo Molina and Richard Cabrera, as well as racketeering, marijuana trafficking and two attempted murders. Felipe Cantres was transferred from local to federal custody in Puerto Rico Aug. 22, 2012.
Miguel Cantres-Sanjurjo (Miguel Cantres), Felipe Cantres' cousin, is charged with the murder of Jose Caba July 14, 2003, and the murder of Wilfredo Molina, as well as racketeering conspiracy, marijuana trafficking and an attempted murder. Miguel Cantres is currently in federal custody in connection with a robbery conviction.
Jose Manuel Espinal is charged in the indictment with racketeering, money laundering conspiracy and two instances of obstruction of justice. Espinal was previously arrested in connection with money laundering charges in December 2011.
Jesus Sanchez is charged with racketeering, marijuana trafficking, money laundering conspiracy and firearms offenses. Sanchez has been in federal custody since Oct. 15, 2010.
Jose A. Rodriguez, the older brother of Manuel Rodriguez and Orlando Rodriguez, is charged with racketeering, marijuana trafficking, money laundering conspiracy and firearms offenses. Jose A. Rodriguez has been in federal custody since Oct. 15, 2010.
Oscar Rodriguez, a cousin of the Rodriguez brothers, is charged with racketeering conspiracy and marijuana trafficking offenses. Oscar Rodriguez was previously arrested in connection with marijuana trafficking charges Oct. 14, 2010.
Theodore Jones is charged with racketeering conspiracy and marijuana trafficking. Jones is currently serving a sentence for an unrelated narcotics conviction.
Defendants Manuel Rodriguez, Jose A. Rodriguez, Oscar Rodriguez and Jesus Sanchez were arrested during an October 2010 takedown of more than 50 members of a massive marijuana trafficking ring that transported ton-quantities of marijuana from Florida and California for distribution in the greater New York area from the early 1990s to 2010. In addition to the defendants charged in the racketeering indictment, the defendants arrested during that takedown included Roc-A-Fella Records founder Kareem Burke, who was sentenced to five years in prison June 4, 2012.
The racketeering indictment seeks the forfeiture of $25 million, which is the approximate amount of gross proceeds received by the defendants in connection with their activities; at least nine separate properties in New York and in Florida; and over $500,000 in cash and nearly 40 pieces of jewelry that were previously seized from the defendants.
All nine defendants are currently in custody or are out on bail in connection with a previous arrest. HSI encourages the public to report any information regarding these crimes. Any information may be provided anonymously to HSI by calling 1-866-DHS-22ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators.
U.S. Attorney Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI and the NYPD. He also thanked the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Marshals Service; Bergen County (N.J.) Prosecutor's Office; Englewood (N.J.) Police Department; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and the City of New York Department of Investigation for their assistance.
A Mexican national, murder suspect captured in northern California July 2012 was turned over to Mexican law enforcement personnel Friday, August 17, 2012, at the San Ysidro border crossing by officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Alvaro Hernandez-Fuentes, 38, was transferred to the custody of representatives from the Mexican Attorney General's Office. Hernandez-Fuentes is wanted in his native country for fatally shooting an acquaintance in the Mexican state of Colima Dec. 1, 1993.
According to the Mexican arrest warrant issued in January 1994, Hernandez-Fuentes' girlfriend lured the victim, Alejandro Gomez Garcia, to a location with the promise that marijuana would soon be available. When Gomez Garcia arrived, Hernandez-Fuentes was waiting, and proceeded to fire three shots with a .380 caliber pistol.
When Hernandez-Fuentes realized the victim was still alive, he fired three additional shots. Hernandez-Fuentes's girlfriend eventually surrendered to police, telling them that Hernandez-Fuentes was attempting to force her to burglarize a store to fund his escape to the United States.
Hernandez-Fuentes' repatriation to Mexico follows his arrest July 12, at a residence in Watsonville, Calif., by the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Santa Cruz Anti-Crime Team (SCCACT). The multi-agency law enforcement team was able to locate Hernandez-Fuentes after receiving a lead from the Mexican Attorney General's Office that the fugitive might be living in the Watsonville area.
On August 9, 2012, an immigration judge cleared the way for the fugitive's repatriation to Mexico after Hernandez-Fuentes admitted he was, in fact, the same person wanted for the homicide in Colima.
"Criminals who seek to escape responsibility for their actions by fleeing to the United States will find no sanctuary in our communities" said Joseph Vincent, assistant special agent in charge for HSI San Jose. "As this case makes clear, U.S. law enforcement agencies are working closely together to promote public safety and hold criminals accountable – no matter where they commit their crimes."
Since Oct. 1, 2009, ERO has removed more than 450 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.
The leader of a local drug trafficking organization, who distributed hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and transported millions of dollars in drug proceeds to Mexican drug traffickers, was sentenced Wednesday, August 15, 2012, to nearly 22 years in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas.
This Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation dubbed "Operation GoodRum" was conducted jointly by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Internal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CID).
Isaias Gallegos, aka "Mickey," 32, of Sugar Land, Texas, had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, and aiding and abetting money laundering. U.S. District Judge David Hittner sentenced Gallegos Aug. 15 to 262 months in federal prison on the conspiracy count and 240 months on the money laundering count; the sentences are to be served concurrently. Gallegos was also sentenced to a five-year term of supervised release.
The 18-month investigation identified Gallegos as the leader of the family operated conspiracy.
The following accomplices were also charged with receiving and selling cocaine from Mexican drug sources to distributors in Houston and throughout the United States:
·Suleyka Gallegos, 32, wife, also of SugarLand;
·Wendy Perez Gallegos, 35, sister, from Laredo, Texas;
·Julio C. Villanueva-Barbosa, 40, brother-in-law, also from Laredo;
·Fernando Gallegos-Saucedo, 23, cousin, from Houston; and
·Francisco Paniagua Romero, 38, uncle, from Houston.
Alvaro Dalberto Palma, 33, and Keith Jamail Sonia, 36, both of Houston, were identified as cocaine distributors for the organization. Jorge Alberto Briones, 40, and Mario Garza Mora, 37, both of Laredo, and J. Jesus Santos, 40, of Houston, were identified as transporters of drug proceeds between Houston and Mexican drug traffickers.
From November 2009 through April 2010, HSI special agents seized $1,844,760 in drug proceeds from couriers transporting the funds from the Gallegos organization in Houston to drug traffickers in Mexico. The investigation culminated April 28, 2010 after search warrants were conducted at locations used by the organization, resulting in the seizure of 147 kilograms of cocaine, an additional $160,704 in drug proceeds, and 11 assault rifles.
A residence purchased with drug proceeds in the name of Suleyka Gallegos on the 5200 block of Ireland in Houston revealed a drug manufacturing operation used by the organization. At the residence, a substance was added to the cocaine and then repackaged to appear as if it were in its originally shipped purity. This process allowed the organization to command higher prices for lower quality cocaine.
Suleyka Gallegos, Palma, Sonia and Villanueva-Barbosa all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, and were sentenced to 87, 120, 135 and 87 months in federal prison, respectively.
Garza Mora, Perez-Gallegos, Gallegos-Saucedo, Romero, Briones and Santos pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the conspiracy to money launder and were sentenced to 41, 87, 151, 210, 97 and 97 months, respectively.
In addition to the seized drug proceeds, multiple automobiles and the residence located on Ireland in Houston used by the organization for their drug trafficking activities were also seized by officers during the course of the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Hanes, Southern District of Texas, prosecuted this case.
A Puerto Rican man faces up to 10 years in prison after being found guilty by a jury the week ending in August 10, 2012, on federal charges stemming from his role as a key operative for a drug ring that distributed large quantities of Chinese-made counterfeit pharmaceuticals throughout the United States and worldwide.
Francis Ortiz Gonzalez, 36, was convicted following a six-day trial on one count of conspiracy and seven counts of trafficking in counterfeit pharmaceuticals. His sentencing is set for Nov. 8 before U.S. District Judge George Wu. Ortiz-Gonzalez. His wife, Ideliz Aleman-Valentin, and two other defendants were named in a 30-count indictment handed down by a grand jury in Los Angeles in June 2009. The jury that convicted Ortiz acquitted Aleman-Valentin.
In 2009, special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a federal search warrant at Ortiz-Gonzalez's residence in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, a suburb of San Juan. Inside the home, investigators found more than 100,000 pills made to resemble a variety of popular prescription medications, including Viagra, Cialis, Valium, Xanax and Lipitor.
The ensuing investigation revealed that Ortiz-Gonzalez had packaged and shipped more than 160,000 counterfeit tablets during a six-month period in 2009 while working for the organization. Many of those shipments were mailed to Southern California, which is why the case was brought to Los Angeles.
The burgeoning popularity of e-commerce has led to an explosion in the number of websites offering prescription drugs online," said Claude Arnold, special agent in charge for HSI Los Angeles. "But consumers who are considering purchasing pharmaceutical products over the Internet should heed that old expression 'buyer beware.' Part of what you're paying for when you buy established brands, regardless of the product, is quality control. Imposter drugs like these pose a serious threat to users who mistakenly assume these substances are safe."
The indictment allege that Ortiz-Gonzalez acted as U.S.-based distributor for a criminal enterprise, allegedly headed by Bo Jiang, 34, a Chinese national whose last known residence is New Zealand. In January 2011, Jiang was taken into custody on a provisional arrest warrant by authorities in New Zealand, but fled shortly after being released on bond. He remains a fugitive.
According to the indictment, Jiang advertised the counterfeit medications over the Internet. As part of the scheme, he allegedly recruited individuals from around the world to act as distributors for the products. The U.S.-based distributors, including Ortiz-Gonzalez, were responsible for receiving the parcels of counterfeit pharmaceuticals from China, then repacking and shipping them to fill individual customer's orders throughout the United States.
The probe, which commenced in 2008, involved HIS Los Angeles, the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice are working together to combat intellectual property crimes. In fiscal year 2011, HSI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection made nearly 25,000 seizures involving counterfeited and pirated products, a 24 percent increase compared to fiscal year 2010.
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 products. HSI focuses not only on keeping counterfeit products off our streets, but also on dismantling the criminal organizations behind such illicit activity.
A former Delta Airlines ramp agent at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, who attempted to obtain a suitcase containing more than $614,000 worth of illegal drugs off of a flight from Mexico City, pleaded guilty Tuesday, July 31, 2012, in federal district court to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances, following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Luis Marroquin, 35, of Atlanta, had previously been indicted by a federal grand jury May 1 on charges of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances and attempting to import methamphetamine and heroin into the United States from Mexico. Kelvin Rondon, 27, of Atlanta, a former Delta Airlines ramp agent who was indicted with Marroquin, pleaded guilty July 19 to the same charge.
United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said of the case: "These guilty pleas demonstrate a continued strong commitment by the U.S. Attorney's Office, ICE, our other law enforcement partners and airline security teams to uncover, arrest and successfully prosecute those individuals who traffic illegal drugs through our airport."
"Keeping dangerous drugs out of our communities is a team effort," said Brock D. Nicholson, special agent in charge of HSI Atlanta. "Thanks to the excellent work done by Delta Airlines security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, HSI special agents were able to unravel this scheme and ensure the defendants will be held accountable for their criminal actions." Nicholson oversees HSI activities in Georgia and the Carolinas.
According to information presented in court, on Jan. 13 at approximately 11:57 a.m. Delta Airlines flight number 364 arrived at the AtlantaHartsfield-JacksonInternationalAirport from Mexico City, Mexico. Shortly thereafter, a Delta Airlines agent found an unclaimed piece of luggage on a baggage carousel with a tag corresponding to Flight 364. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents inspected the luggage, and determined that it contained multiple packages of methamphetamine and heroin.
Later that same day, HSI special agents interviewed Carlos R. Springer, 41, of Hampton, Ga., who was the performance leader for the shift of ramp employees who off-loaded the baggage on Flight 364. During a search of Springer's cellular telephone, special agents found coded incriminating text messages between Springer and Marroquin around the time of the arrival of the flight which concerned a missing bag. The investigation revealed that Marroquin recruited Rondon to locate the suitcase of drugs from the aircraft and showed Rondon a picture of the bag from Marroquin's cellular telephone in advance of the arrival of the flight.
Marroquin, Rondon and Springer were charged in the same indictment May 1 with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, and attempting to import methamphetamine and heroin into the United States from Mexico.
A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment June 6 which also charged Stephanie Baxter, 26, of Atlanta, with concealing and harboring Marroquin while he remained a fugitive in this case. Baxter was in the process of selling Marroquin's assets so that Marroquin could supposedly flee to his native Guatemala. HSI special agents foiled the plan and arrested Marroquin at a residence in Coral Springs, Fla., May 8.
The sentencings for Marroquin and Rondon have not yet been scheduled. Marroquin and Rondon could receive maximum sentences of life in prison and fines of up to $10,000,000. In determining the actual sentences, the court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.
Springer's and Baxter's cases remain pending in federal court.
More than 90 individuals were arrested and approximately five million packets of finished designer synthetic drugs were seized in the first-ever nationwide law enforcement action against the synthetic designer drug industry responsible for the production and sale of synthetic drugs that are often marketed as bath salts, Spice, incense, or plant food. More than $36 million in cash was also seized.
As of July 26, 2012, more than 4.8 million packets of synthetic cannabinoids (K2, Spice) and the products to produce nearly 13.6 million more, as well as 167,000 packets of synthetic cathinones (bath salts), and the products to produce an additional 392,000 were seized.
Operation Log Jam was conducted jointly by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with assistance from the IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, FBI, Food and Drug Administration's Office of Criminal Investigations, as well as state and local law enforcement members in more than 109 U.S. cities and targeted every level of the synthetic designer drug industry, including retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers.
"Today, we struck a huge blow to the synthetic drug industry. The criminal organizations behind the importation, distribution and selling of these synthetic drugs have scant regard for human life in their reckless pursuit of illicit profits," said Acting Director of ICE's Office of Homeland Security Investigations James Chaparro. "ICE is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to bring this industry to its knees."
"Although tremendous progress has been made in legislating and scheduling these dangerous substances, this enforcement action has disrupted the entire illegal industry, from manufacturers to retailers," said DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart. "Together with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, we are committed to targeting these new and emerging drugs with every scientific, legislative and investigative tool at our disposal."
"The synthetic drug industry is an emerging area where we can leverage our financial investigative expertise to trace the path of illicit drug proceeds by identifying the financial linkages among the various co-conspirators," said Richard Weber, chief, IRS Criminal Investigation. "We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to disrupt and ultimately dismantle the highest level drug trafficking and drug money laundering organizations that pose the greatest threat to Americans and American interests."
"The U.S. Postal Inspection Service aggressively investigates the use of the U.S. Mail system for the distribution of illegal controlled substances and its proceeds. Our agency uses a multi-tiered approach to these crimes: protection against the use of the mail for illegal purposes and enforcement of laws against drug trafficking and money laundering. This includes collaboration with other agencies," said Chief Postal Inspector Guy J. Cottrell.
"The mission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection is to guard our country's borders from people and goods that could harm our way of life," said Acting Commissioner David V. Aguilar. "We are proud to be part of an operation that disrupts the flow of synthetic drugs into the country and out of the hands of the American people."
Over the past several years, there has been a growing use of, and interest in, synthetic cathinones (stimulants/hallucinogens) sold under the guise of "bath salts" or "plant food." Marketed under names such as "Ivory Wave," "Purple Wave," "Vanilla Sky," or "Bliss," these products are comprised of a class of dangerous substances perceived to mimic cocaine, LSD, MDMA and/or methamphetamine. Users have reported impaired perception, reduced motor control, disorientation, extreme paranoia, and violent episodes. The long-term physical and psychological effects of use are unknown but potentially severe.
These products have become increasingly popular, particularly among teens and young adults and those who mistakenly believe they can bypass the drug testing protocols that have been set up by employers and government agencies to protect public safety. They are sold at a variety of retail outlets, in head shops and over the Internet. However, they have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for human consumption or for medical use, and there is no oversight of the manufacturing process.
Smokable herbal blends marketed as being "legal" and providing a marijuana-like high have also become increasingly popular, particularly among teens and young adults, because they are easily available and, in many cases, they are more potent and dangerous than marijuana.
These products consist of plant material that has been coated with dangerous psychoactive compounds that mimic THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. Just as with the synthetic cathinones, synthetic cannabinoids are sold at a variety of retail outlets, in head shops and over the Internet. Brands such as "Spice," "K2," "Blaze," and "Red X Dawn" are labeled as incense to mask their intended purpose.
While many of the designer drugs being marketed today that were seized as part of Operation Log Jam are not specifically prohibited in the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), the Controlled Substance Analogue Enforcement Act of 1986 (AEA) allows these drugs to be treated as controlled substances if they are proven to be chemically and/or pharmacologically similar to a Schedule I or Schedule II controlled substance. A number of cases that are part of Operation Log Jam will be prosecuted federally under this analogue provision, which specifically exists to combat these new and emerging designer drugs.
DEA has used its emergency scheduling authority to combat both synthetic cathinones (the so-called bath salts like Ivory Wave, etc.) and synthetic cannabinoids (the so-called incense products like K2, Spice, etc.), temporarily placing several of these dangerous chemicals into Schedule I of the CSA. Congress has also acted, permanently placing 26 substances into Schedule I of the CSA.
In 2010, poison centers nationwide responded to about 3,200 calls related to synthetic "Spice" and "bath salts." In 2011, that number jumped to more than 13,000 calls. Sixty percent of the cases involved patients 25 and younger.
Eleven foreign nationals were charged Thursday, July 19, 2012, in a 90-count superseding federal indictment alleging they conspired to distribute cocaine and engaged in tax fraud, money laundering, identity theft and other financial crimes.
The indictment comes following a multi-agency Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDEF) investigation, stemming from an initial Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Anchorage police drug probe. The magnitude of the financial crimes, money laundering and identity theft, resulted in the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) taking a lead role.
According to the indictment, the Dominican and Mexican-national defendants engaged in a conspiracy to defraud the United States by filing false tax returns and illegally claiming millions of dollars in tax refunds. Investigators believe that between January and March the defendants conducted their scheme using names and Social Security numbers of individuals from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
"Today's indictment is a clear warning that anyone who steals the identities of innocent taxpayers and uses the information for personal profit will be aggressively pursued, investigated and prosecuted, in Alaska or throughout the United States," U.S. Attorney Karen Loeffler said. "This case is an example of how interagency cooperation and teamwork can successfully bring down an entire organized criminal conspiracy."
Three laptop computers seized by investigators contained information for approximately $19 million in fraudulent refund claims, 2,600 stolen identities including individual names, Social Security numbers and other identity information. It is also alleged that one or more of the defendants obtained the physical addresses used on the tax returns by stealing mail from mailboxes in and around the Anchorage area.
The defendants obtained Alaska identification cards using the stolen identities, which were necessary to open the numerous bank accounts needed to cash their tax refund checks. They also falsely claimed to be U.S. citizens to obtain the identity documents and open the accounts.
"These criminals illegally posed as U.S. citizens and exploited our financial system for personal gain," said Brad Bench, special agent in charge of HSI Seattle, who oversees HSI investigations in Alaska. "By pooling our unique resources, legal authorities and expertise, HSI and the IRS were able to dismantle a significant scheme to defraud the people of the United States."
"The charges brought forth today against these 11 individuals serve as another reminder that IRS Criminal Investigation is aggressively pursuing those who choose to defraud the government and disrupt the lives of innocent taxpayers," stated Richard Weber, IRS Criminal Investigations chief.
"Drug traffickers' greed clearly has no limits, as evidenced by this investigation," said Douglas James DEA acting special agent in charge. "The DEA is proud of its partnership with the Anchorage Police Department, which brought this case to their federal counterparts, exposing this multi-faceted criminal organization."
The indictment also charges various defendants with submitting false claims for refund, possessing stolen mail, making false claims of U.S. citizenship, committing passport fraud, making false statements to banks and credit unions, and passing forged U.S. Treasury checks, as well as aggravated identity theft.
The fraud charges each carry maximum penalties of between two and 30 years imprisonment, in addition to the five-year mandatory minimum prison term required upon conviction on the drug charges.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and U.S. State Department's Diplomatic Security Service also investigated. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Alaska and the U.S. Department of Justice Tax Division.
An indictment is merely a formal accusation. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
