HSI Dismantles Human Smuggling Ring During Routine Traffic Stop

It began with a routine traffic stop in Tampa, Fla. On February 4, 2012, just after 5 p.m., Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office deputies pulled over 21-year-old Kathleen Roberson. Not only did she not have a valid driver's license, but she was also transporting five illegal aliens in her Kia Sorrento.

Roberson and one of her passengers, Jessica Roland, were transporters for a much larger human smuggling organization that operated out of Arizona and Alabama. The organization transported illegal aliens to final destinations throughout the United States.

The sheriff's office and the U.S. Border Patrol notified U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) about the incident. Two days later, HSI initiated an investigation to determine who Roberson and Roland were working for.

"When conducting these investigations, we look for the root of the problem. We were determined to dismantle the larger criminal organization behind the smuggling activity," said Sue McCormick, special agent in charge of HSI Tampa.

Further investigation led HSI to the organization's leadership, including brothers Jose Bartolo Calixto-Moran and Pedro Calixto-Moran, and Pedro's girlfriend Marilu Ramirez-Bartolo. The brothers and Ramirez-Bartolo were all Mexican citizens illegally residing in the United States.

"Human smugglers completely disregard the value of human lives. They transport people across the border like commodities, often in squalid conditions," said McCormick. "We estimate this organization was transporting nearly 80 illegal aliens each month from Phoenix to final destinations across the United States."

As a result of HSI's investigation, the court sentenced Pedro Calixto-Moran to 71 months in prison, Jose Calixto-Moran to 41 months in prison and Ramirez-Bartolo to 27 months in prison for their roles in the human smuggling organization. Roberto Jimenez-Delgado was also sentenced to 33 months in prison for transporting illegal aliens. Roberson and Roland cooperated with the investigation, and as a result, were sentenced to time served.

Attorney Alex Meyerovich Speaks Out Against Human Trafficking

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 National Human Trafficking Resource Center. 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.

Chinese Nationals Arrested for Harboring and Unlawfully Employing Illegal Aliens

Three Chinese nationals from the Katy, Texas, area were taken into custody Thursday, October 25, 2012, following the return of an indictment alleging a conspiracy to harbor and induce illegal aliens to reside in the U.S, and unlawful employment.

These arrests were announced by U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas. The investigation is being conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

The indictment indicates Song Yu, 32, Hue Chen, 36, and Cheng Jie Chen, 40, hired illegal aliens from Guatemala to work at the Bamboo Village, aka New Bamboo Village restaurant. In addition, some of these aliens were allegedly directed to obtain fraudulent work authorization documents. They never presented identification documents and never completed I-9 forms, as required by law, according to the indictment. The indictment further alleges illegal aliens and other workers were provided housing, and were transported to and from the restaurant.

Bamboo Village restaurant is a Chinese restaurant located on the 5100 block of Avenue H, in Rosenberg, Texas. Cheng Jie Chen was its original director and president. On April 5, 2010, the restaurant changed the corporation name to New Bamboo Village Inc., at which time Yu, Cheng Jie Chen's nephew, was named as the director and president.

Federal law requires employers to hire only U.S. citizens and aliens who are authorized to work in the United States. Further, employers must verify employment eligibility using the Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9). The employer is required to examine, at the time of hire, the documentation provided by the individual that establishes his identity and employment eligibility to ensure the documents presented appear to be genuine and relate to the individual. The employer must retain the I-9 forms for three years after the date of the hire or one year after the date the individual's employment is terminated, whichever is later.

On March 24, 2009, HSI special agents encountered and arrested illegal aliens at a residence on the 4900 block of Timber Lane in Rosenberg. These individuals, who did not have the proper I-9 documentation, allegedly worked at Bamboo Village and resided at the Timber Lane location. According to the indictment, they were transported daily to work at the restaurant.

HSI issued a warning notice to the restaurant on or about July 1, 2010, advising then owner Chen Jie Chen of the penalties associated with knowingly hiring and employing illegal aliens, and the lack of the I-9 forms.

On Aug. 22, 2012, HSI personnel again encountered more illegal aliens who were arrested at the same Timber Lane residence. At the time, all were allegedly being housed by the defendants at this location while working at New Bamboo Village.

The three were expected to make their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy Johnson Oct. 26. If convicted of the conspiracy charge, they face up to 10 years in prison, as well as a maximum $250,000 fine. Unlawfully employing illegal aliens carries an additional six-month prison term, and a $3,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Elmilady, Southern District of Texas, is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.

Guatemalan Nationals Convicted for Human Smuggling and Hostage-Taking

Two Guatemalan men accused of multiple human smuggling and hostage-taking charges were convicted Thursday, October 11, 2012, by a federal jury, following an investigation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Domingo Agustin-Simon, 31, and Leonardo Rabanales-Casia, 30, were both convicted of conspiracy to commit hostage taking, hostage taking, bringing in illegal aliens for profit, and harboring illegal aliens for profit. Both defendants remain in federal custody pending a sentencing hearing scheduled for Jan. 14, 2013. The men face maximum penalties of life in prison, $250,000 fine, or both.

Evidence presented at trial showed the defendants were part of an alien smuggling ring that smuggled aliens into the U.S. to a drop house in Mesa. In August 2011, HSI special agents responded to the drop house and found more than 40 illegal aliens being held inside.

Trial testimony revealed the smugglers used a shotgun to keep order in the house and threatened the aliens with physical harm and death in an effort to extort monetary payments from the aliens’ families. One hostage was beaten by the smugglers and women in the drop house were sexually assaulted.

HSI was assisted in the investigation by the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Phoenix Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine D. Keller and Sean K. Lokey of the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona.

36 Criminal Aliens Arrested During ICE Gulf Coast Target Operation

As part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) ongoing commitment to prioritizing the removal of criminal aliens and egregious immigration law violators, 36 convicted criminal aliens, immigration fugitives and immigration violators were arrested during a five-day operation in the Gulf Coast area.

The operation concluded Sunday, September 16, 2012, and was conducted by ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Fugitive Operations Teams.

Of the 36 arrested, 19 had convictions for crimes such as: aggravated assault, burglary, battery on a law enforcement officer, identity theft, possessing cocaine, battery, forgery, fraud, driving under the influence and domestic violence.

Five of the 36 were immigration fugitives who had been previously ordered to leave the country but failed to depart; four of those are convicted criminals in addition to having outstanding deportation orders. Six of the 36 – including five convicted criminals – had been previously deported. Illegally re-entering the United States after deportation is a felony offense.

The 33 men and three women arrested during this operation were from: Mexico (23), Honduras (3), Guatemala (5), Vietnam (1), Thailand (1), Czech Republic (1), Iran (1) and Cuba (1). Most of those arrested, 13, were in the Pensacola area; additional arrests were made in the following northwestern Florida cities: Ft. Walton Beach (5), Navarre (7), Defuniak Springs (3) and Santa Rosa Beach. Seven arrests were also made near Mobile, Ala.

"These arrests of convicted criminals and repeat immigration violators demonstrate ICE's ongoing commitment to public safety," said Scott Sutterfield, acting field office director of ERO New Orleans. "When ICE prioritizes these individuals for arrest, our officers and agents work tirelessly to pursue the leads."

Among the convicted criminal aliens arrested were:

·                             A 32-year-old Honduran national who was previously deported from the United States and illegally re-entered. He was previously convicted of burglary, robbery, theft and has a domestic violence case pending. He was arrested Thursday in Ft. Walton Beach and remains in ICE custody pending removal to Honduras.

·                             A 32-year-old Mexican national who was previously convicted of felony battery and giving false information to law enforcement. He was arrested Wednesday in Pensacola and remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

·                             A 41-year-old Vietnamese national who was previously convicted of aggravated assault with great bodily harm and felony battery with a weapon. He was arrested Wednesday in Pensacola and remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

"We continuously focus on improving the safety of all of our communities by conducting these targeted enforcement actions," said Michael Meade, acting field office director of ERO Miami
.
These arrests were coordinated with ICE's National Fugitive Operations Program (NFOP), which is responsible for investigating, locating, arresting and removing at-large criminal aliens and immigration fugitives – aliens who have ignored final orders of deportation handed down by the nation's immigration courts. ICE's Fugitive Operations Teams give top priority to cases involving aliens who pose a threat to national security and public safety, including members of transnational street gangs and child sex offenders.

San Diego Target Operation Arrests Dozens of Criminal Aliens

A total of 31 individuals, including nearly two dozen criminal aliens, were taken into custody during an enforcement operation carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in San Diego the week ending in Friday, July 27, 2012.

The three day operation, which concluded Friday, July 27, was conducted by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) as part of the agency's commitment to prioritize the removal of criminal aliens and egregious immigration violators.

Of the individuals taken into custody, 23 were criminal aliens whose conviction histories included child sex crimes, battery, domestic violence, embezzlement and possession of narcotics. The group also included five immigration fugitives with outstanding orders of deportation and 13 previously deported aliens.

Those arrested during the operation include:

·                             A 51-year-old Mexican man who now faces removal following his conviction and year-long incarceration for committing lewd and lascivious acts on a child under the age of 14; and

·                             A twice deported 55-year-old Mexican man with a lengthy criminal history, including prior convictions for domestic violence, drunk driving, driving under the influence of drugs, felony theft, violating a protective order, resisting a public officer and possession of controlled substance. He was removed to Mexico last week.

"ERO is committed to working hard to make our communities safer by arresting and removing convicted criminal aliens and those who blatantly ignore their deportation orders without regard for our nation's immigration laws," said Robin Baker, field officer director for ERO San Diego. "With targeted enforcement operations, we are focusing our resources on the most egregious offenders and improving public safety for the law-abiding residents in our communities."

The 25 men and six women arrested during the operation include foreign nationals from three countries – Mexico, Guatemala and Russia. The arrests took place in Chula Vista, El Cajon, Encinitas, Escondido, La Mesa, Oceanside, San Diego, San Marcos and Vista.

Last week's enforcement action was coordinated with ICE's National Fugitive Operations Program, which is responsible for investigating, locating, arresting and removing at-large criminal aliens and immigration fugitives – aliens who have ignored final orders of deportation handed down by federal immigration courts. ICE's Fugitive Operations Teams give top priority to cases involving aliens who pose a threat to national security and public safety, including members of transnational street gangs and child sex offenders.

Members of Illegal Maryland Document Mill Plead Guilty

All members of a Maryland document mill, including eight Mexican nationals and a Honduran national, pleaded guilty to manufacturing and selling thousands of fake government identification documents, following an investigation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

"Document fraud poses a severe threat to national security and puts the security of our communities at risk because it creates a vulnerability that may enable terrorists, criminals and illegal aliens to gain entry to and remain in the United States," said HSI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge William Winter. "This investigation resulted in the dismantlement of a document fraud criminal organization based out of Maryland and the arrest of its leaders. Homeland Security Investigations will move aggressively to investigate and bring to justice those who potentially compromise the integrity of America's legal immigration system."

Between May 14 and May 24, five defendants, all of whom lived in Baltimore, pleaded guilty. They include Cristian Fuentes-Valle, aka "Honduras," 34; Ivan Altamirano-Perez, aka "Elmer," 32; Miguel Reyes-Ontiveros, 41; Daniel Cruz-Martinez, aka "Danny," 23; and Roberto Moralez-Perez, aka "Piza," 26.

According to the plea agreements and other court documents, the responsibility for manufacturing the identity documents – including permanent resident cards and social security cards – rotated among various individuals. From June 2008 through May 2010, Ivan Altamirano-Perez and his brother, Roberto Morales-Perez, shared the territory and took turns receiving the income from manufacturing the identity documents. Beginning in May 2010 and continuing until their arrests, Altamirano-Perez and Morales-Perez shared the territory and manufacturing rights and profits with Miguel Reyes-Ontiveros. Collectively, they were known as the "Broadway Mill Operators." The location of the manufacturing operation, aka the "mill," was changed frequently to avoid detection.

When the Broadway Mill Operators were not engaged in manufacturing the documents, they sold documents themselves or assisted by collecting orders from salesmen and delivering documents back to the salesmen once they had been manufactured. The Broadway Mill Operators used a group of at least 10 individuals, who sold and distributed the identity documents manufactured by the Broadway Mill Operators.

The salesmen included: Adrian Badillo-Carrasco, aka "Rana," 36; Alejandrino Candia-Galindo, aka "Paisa and Omar," 27; Saul Sanchez Galvin, aka "Chino, Morro and Doblon," 27; Juan Merlin-Gonzalez, 35; Cristian Fuentes-Valle, aka "Honduras," 34; and Daniel Cruz-Martinez, aka "Danny," 23.

According to their plea agreements, the salesmen solicited individuals in the 200 block of South Broadway in Baltimore, which is known as the "Broadway Territory," to purchase fake identification documents, either in person or by distributing business cards. When a person seeking to purchase counterfeit identity documents was identified, the salesman would negotiate a price, obtain a picture and the necessary information to create the identification card. The salesman would then call whichever of the Broadway Mill Operators was working that week to pick up the order. Later, the completed identity document would be dropped off for the salesman, who would contact the customer and give him/her the identity documents in exchange for money, which usually cost between $130 and $160.

According to the plea agreements and other court documents, the defendants manufactured and transferred thousands of fraudulent identification documents for which they are alleged to have received approximately $1.68 million.

On Feb. 15, a defendant in a related case, Victor Lopez Escamilla, was convicted by a jury of manufacturing and trafficking in counterfeit identity documents, social security number cards and immigration identity documents. He was sentenced to 97 months in prison.

Each defendant faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for conspiracy to commit fraud in connection with identification documents and a maximum of 10 years in prison for fraud and misuse of immigration documents. In addition, Altamirano-Perez, Morales-Perez and Reyes-Ontiveros each face a maximum of five years in prison for social security fraud and Altamirano-Perez faces a maximum of 15 years in prison for identification document fraud. The defendants, all of whom are in the U.S. illegally, face removal or removal proceedings upon the completion of their sentences.

U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles Jr., has scheduled sentencing for Reyes-Ontiveros July 19; for Roberto Morales-Perez Aug. 23 and for Altamirano-Perez Aug. 21. Sentencing for Badillo-Carrasco is scheduled July 17; for Candia-Galindo July 26; for Merlin-Gonzalez Aug. 14; for Cruz-Martinez Aug. 22; for Sanchez-Galvin Aug. 28 and for Fuentes-Valle Sept. 5.

The investigation was conducted by HSI Baltimore and the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the State Department Diplomatic Security Service, Washington Field Office; the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, Investigation and Security Services Division; and the Baltimore County Police Department.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tamera L. Fine and Judson T. Mihok.

Missouri Woman Pleads Guilty in $5 Million Illegal Document Conspiracy

A Missouri woman pleaded guilty in federal court Monday, May 7, to her role in a more than $5 million conspiracy that utilized the Missouri Department of Revenue license office in St. Joseph to provide more than 3,500 fraudulent identity documents to illegal aliens across the United States.

The guilty plea resulted from an investigation conducted by the following agencies: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations; the Buchanan County (Mo.) Sheriff's Department; the St. Joseph (Mo.) Police Department; the Platte County (Mo.) Sheriff's Department; the Missouri State Highway Patrol; the Missouri Department of Revenue Investigation Bureau; the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security.

Christina Michelle Gonzalez, 23, of St. Joseph, Mo., pleaded guilty May 7 before U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to the charges contained in a Jan. 10 federal indictment.

By pleading guilty, Gonzalez admitted to participating in a conspiracy from November 2009 to January 2012 to transport illegal aliens, unlawfully produce identification documents, unlawfully transfer another person's identification, and commit Social Security fraud.

During the conspiracy, thousands of illegal aliens traveled from across the United States to obtain either a Missouri driver's or non-driver's license at the St. Joseph license office by using unlawfully obtained birth certificates and Social Security cards. It is estimated that more than 3,500 licenses were issued to illegal aliens by the Department of Revenue license office in St. Joseph. The state licenses could then be used by the illegal aliens to remain unlawfully in the United States, to unlawfully obtain employment and for other unlawful purposes.

Gonzalez admitted that she accompanied illegal aliens to the St. Joseph license office, under the guise of being a translator, in order to assist them with obtaining a Missouri driver's or non-driver's license. Those licenses used the names of persons who were listed on unlawfully obtained birth certificates and Social Security cards.

Gonzalez instructed and assisted the illegal aliens to practice memorizing the information on the birth certificates and Social Security cards and to practice signing the name on those documents so that the signatures would be similar. She also assisted the illegal aliens to prepare for potential questions from the license office employees.

Gonzalez assisted the illegal aliens who did not live in Missouri by providing them with a Missouri residential address to use in order to obtain the Missouri driver's or non-driver's license.

The illegal aliens were usually charged between $1,500 and $1,600 for the document sets and the Missouri driver's and non-driver's licenses. Gonzalez collected money from the illegal aliens, which she paid to her co-conspirators. It is estimated that more than $5,250,000 in gross proceeds was paid by illegal aliens to members of this conspiracy.

Under federal statutes, Gonzalez is subject to a sentence of up to five years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $250,000. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a pre-sentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jess E. Michaelsen, Western District of Missouri, is prosecuting the case.

Restaurant Owners Sentenced for Immigration, Tax, and Employment Fraud

The husband and wife owners of a Bay Area Mexican restaurant chain were sentenced Tuesday, April 24, on various immigration, Social Security and tax violations uncovered during a probe involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and several other federal agencies.

Marino Sandoval, 59, and Nicole Sandoval, 51, owners of El Balazo Restaurant, appeared in federal court Tuesday, April 24. Marino Sandoval was sentenced to 41 months in prison. Nicole Sandoval was sentenced to five years' probation and 12 months of community confinement. In addition, the two were ordered to pay $2.2 million in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The Pleasanton couple pleaded guilty Sept. 7, 2011. In pleading guilty, they admitted owning and operating El Balazo, along with Marino Sandoval's brother, Francisco Sandoval, who pleaded guilty to tax charges in 2010. Marino and Nicole Sandoval acknowledged they were responsible for withholding federal taxes, including employment and unemployment taxes, from their employees' pay. Nicole Sandoval admitted she underreported employees' wages to the payroll company that prepared the restaurants' tax returns. Marino and Nicole Sandoval admitted that, because of their actions, the amount of employment taxes paid to the IRS was understated.

At the hearing, Marino Sandoval also admitted hiring employees who were not authorized to work in the United States. According to his plea agreement, between August 2007 and August 2008, he employed more than 100 illegal aliens. In May 2008, HSI special agents conducted searches at several El Balazo locations and encountered approximately 63 illegal alien workers. After being informed by HSI in writing of the identities of the unauthorized employees, Marino Sandoval rehired more than 10 of them.

Aside from the tax charges, Nicole Sandoval also pleaded guilty to misusing El Balazo employees' Social Security numbers that were provided to the Social Security Administration and the IRS. Between 2002 and 2007, Nicole Sandoval submitted, on behalf of El Balazo, the employer's quarterly contribution and wage reports to the Social Security Administration. The reports included the names of undocumented alien employees receiving wages from their employment. In court, Nicole Sandoval admitted she was aware the Social Security numbers submitted were not the numbers assigned to the employees.

The couple was charged by criminal information in November 2010 with harboring and employing illegal aliens; misusing employees' Social Security numbers; and engaging in tax fraud.

In addition to HSI, IRS Criminal Investigation and the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General also participated in the probe. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Corrigan and Thomas Newman with further support provided by Kathleen Turner.

Guilty Pleas for a Dozen Involved in Human Smuggling Operation

The leader of an alien smuggling organization and six others have pleaded guilty for their involvement in a conspiracy to harbor and transport illegal aliens. These guilty pleas were announced by U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas, and Robert Rutt, special agent in charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Houston.

A sealed indictment was returned Jan. 25 and later unsealed following the arrest of 12 persons involved in this conspiracy. With the March 5 guilty plea of John Castillo, 31, of Wharton, Texas, all 12 now stand convicted. On Feb. 22, the indictment was superseded and unsealed upon the arrest of an additional 19 defendants in association with this case.

Armando Olmedo-Trevino, 47, is considered to be the leader of this nearly decade-long conspiracy. He pleaded guilty Mar. 2 before Senior U.S. District Judge Janis Graham Jack. As part of his guilty plea, Olmedo-Trevino admitted he engaged in a conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens in buildings and other places illegal aliens from Aug. 9, 2002 to Jan. 31, 2012. He also pleaded guilty to transporting illegal aliens. The following five others also entered guilty pleas on Mar. 2: Tracy Howard, 47, Christian Russo, 39, Oscar Garza-Perales, 28, Sandro Alvarez-Maldonado, 35, and Cristobal Ochoa, 48. Five others had previously entered guilty pleas and will be sentenced May 3: Maria Herrera, 34, Norma Leticia Silva-Garcia, 38, Petronilo Sanchez-Jimenez, 42, Donna Simkins, 45, and Ricky Garibaldi, 46.

According to court documents, Olmedo-Trevino and others engaged in a conspiracy to harbor and transport illegal aliens from Aug. 9, 2002 until his arrest on Jan. 27. Following his arrest, the indictment was later superseded to add defendants and reflect the final alien smuggling attempt Jan. 31. Olmedo-Trevino began with the smuggling organization by transporting aliens. He was caught transporting aliens on at least two occasions. Thereafter, he became the leader of the conspiracy, running the operation from his home in Wharton, Texas. Throughout the conspiracy, Olmedo-Trevino worked with numerous people who recruited drivers to transport aliens for the organization, including Castillo, Simkins, Howard, Russo, Garibaldi and Garza-Perales. Olmedo-Trevino also worked with other co-conspirators, including Sanchez-Jimenez, to smuggle illegal aliens across the border and then harboring them in stash houses located in the Rio Grande Valley until they could be transported throughout the United States.

In most cases, no more than five illegal aliens were transported at a time. They were hidden underneath blankets or luggage, in between the seats of an SUV or minivan. However, in a few instances, illegal aliens were transported in other ways, such as in car trunks. In June 2011, Olmedo-Trevino and others modified a trailer with a false compartment intended to conceal up to 15 illegal aliens.

Over the course of the 10-year conspiracy, special agents seized about 400 illegal aliens being transported.

Olmedo-Trevino, Castillo and the others who pleaded guilty Mar. 2 are set for sentencing May 24. All those convicted to date face up to 10 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine. The U.S. government is seeking forfeiture of about $83,000 and two residences seized as part of the overall investigation.

The indictment and arrests resulted from an on-going investigation by HSI in cooperation with the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chad W. Cowan and Jeffrey D. Preston, Southern District of Texas, are prosecuting the case.

Immigrants use civil lawsuits to protest raids by federal agents

This excerpt is from the article "Putting Heat On ICE" published by Connecticut Law Tribune Monday, November 16, 2009
Copyright 2009, ALM Properties, Inc.

In May 2006, the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency launched “Operation Return To Sender.” The goal: track down, arrest and deport undocumented immigrants, particularly felons, gang members and other dangerous types.

Since then, ICE agents have conducted scores of raids on homes and workplaces. Advocacy groups and lawyers say some agents have been overly zealous, and the advocates have regularly gone to court to try to void arrests and block deportations. But in what seems to be a small, but significant trend, some have also gone on the offensive, filing civil lawsuits against ICE and its agents.

The most recent example is in Connecticut, where a Yale School of Law legal clinic has filed suit on behalf of 10 undocumented immigrants whose homes were raided in June 2007. Immigration attorneys differ on whether the claim has much chance of success. But most agree that litigation is an interesting strategy that could buy time in America for the clients and give ICE officials reason to reconsider tactics.

Attorney Alex Meyerovich, of Bridgeport’s M.C. Law Group, called the lawsuit part of a “cat and mouse game” between federal agents and advocates for immigrants. Similar claims have been filed following sweeps on immigrant homes in New Jersey, New York, Georgia and Northern California in recent years.

“What Yale is trying to do is to intimidate ICE,” said Meyerovich. “To show there is a potential liability if they step over an invisible border. It doesn’t matter if [the lawsuit] succeeds or fails. It’s an important power struggle.”

Meyerovich has few kind words for ICE agents, calling some of them “vigilantes.” But he also would not endorse the civil rights lawsuit. “If illegal immigrants succeed in this lawsuit, the message might come out, if you come into the country illegally and get arrested, your rights were violated. I think it’s the wrong message.”

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Transport Illegal Aliens - Three Louisiana individuals sentenced for transporting illegal aliens

October 30, 2009

Three Louisiana individuals sentenced for transporting illegal aliens
Defendants Part of Large Scale Operation to Transport Illegal Aliens

LAKE CHARLES, La. - Members of a large scale illegal alien transportation operation based in Sulphur, La., were sentenced in federal court yesterday following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

U. S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi sentenced Carolyn Joyce Metcalf, 62, to 30 months in prison, followed by three years supervised release; Terri Lynn Fields, 41, to 27 months in prison, followed by three years supervised release; and Jean Morgan Vincent, 59, to three years probation, for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens.

Metcalf, Fields and Vincent were indicted last year, along with three others, for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, and pleaded guilty in May 2009. Metcalf, Fields and Vincent admitted they conspired with their co-defendants to transport illegal aliens from the Texas and Mexico border area to other locations within Texas, that they knew the aliens came into the United States illegally, and the transportation of these illegal aliens was with the intent to further their unlawful presence in the United States. Metcalf, Fields and Vincent were involved in a conspiracy with their co-defendants that resulted in the organization transporting hundreds of illegal aliens on a regular basis since 2005.

Two co-defendants have previously pled guilty. Joan Comeaux, 56, pleaded guilty in October 2008, and is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 10, 2009. Comeaux, the ring leader of this organization, admitted that she instructed her co-defendants in this case on the procedure to transport illegal aliens and along with her sister, Carolyn Metcalf, transported illegal aliens.

Timothy Gene Jones, 40, pleaded guilty in May 2009, and was sentenced on Sept. 3, 2009, to one year imprisonment, followed by three years supervised release. Jones admitted that he was recruited as a driver and made trips to Texas to pick up and transport the illegal aliens. The recruiting process took place in the Western District of Louisiana.

"This case is a perfect example of the outstanding cooperation between ICE and our sister law enforcement agencies. Because of positive interagency cooperation, human trafficking and smuggling criminal organizations are discovering how difficult it is for them to hide their illegal activities from authorities," said Michael A. Holt, special agent in charge of ICE's Office of Investigations in New Orleans. "We are dedicated to identifying and dismantling these types of illicit operations wherever and whenever we find them."

"Any person who assists an alien to illegally enter the United States is in violation of the law and should be punished," said U. S. Attorney Donald Washington. "We will continue to aggressively pursue those who assist aliens to illegally enter and remain in the United States."

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol, Louisiana State Police, Sulphur Police Department and Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney James T. McManus.