A
Guatemalan national who admitted playing a central role in a large-scale human
smuggling organization that brought thousands of illegal aliens from Central
America to Southern California, often holding them against their will in
so-called drop houses, has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison.
Fredy
Oswaldo Gamez Reyes, 44, was sentenced Wednesday, February 6, 2013, by Judge S.
James Otero, who pointed to the smuggling organization's tactics, including the
use of weapons and guard dogs to intimidate the illegal aliens, as the basis
for the 96-month prison term.
Gamez
pleaded guilty in May 2012 to six criminal counts of harboring and concealing
illegal aliens for financial gain, following a probe by U.S. Immigration and
Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). According
to court documents, Gamez acknowledged he served as a supervisor for a criminal
organization that smuggled more than 6,000 illegal aliens into Southern California during a three-year period, beginning
in 2008, generating an estimated $10 million in income.
HSI's
probe revealed Gamez held a number of jobs within the organization, including
locating and renting drop houses, overseeing the operation of those locations,
and collecting smuggling fees from the illegal aliens' relatives in exchange
for the illegal aliens' release. HSI's investigation also uncovered numerous
incidents perpetrated by members of the organization involving beatings, sexual
assaults and hostage taking.
"As
this sentence makes clear, those who exploit people in this brutal and
despicable way will themselves face serious consequences," said Claude
Arnold, special agent in charge for HSI Los Angeles. "Alien smugglers view
their clients as nothing more than a payday and they have no qualms about using
threats and violence to collect their smuggling fees."
The
smuggling organization originally came to authorities' attention in July 2009
after HSI special agents and Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies responded to
a drop house in Compton
where 20 individuals were reportedly being held against their will. Two of the
captive aliens wrote a plea for help on a napkin and threw it out the window,
where it was found by neighborhood children.
Evidence
uncovered during the ensuing the investigation showed Gamez was responsible for
overseeing the operation of the Compton
location, along with three other human smuggling drop houses in Baldwin Park, Lynwood
and Hesperia.
HSI's
investigation into this smuggling organization is ongoing. To date, 11 other
individuals involved in the ring have been arrested and/or convicted of federal
charges, resulting in sentences of 33 to 51 months.
Two British nationals were extradited from the United Kingdom late Friday, October 5, 2012, and now face terrorism-related charges in the United States. If convicted of the charges, both face up to life in prison. This investigation is being led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Babar Ahmad, 38, and Syed Talha Ahsan, 33, were extradited Oct. 5, arriving in the United States early in the morning Oct. 6. They appeared before U.S. District Court Judge Janet C. Hall the same day. Both pleaded not guilty, but were ordered detained while they await trial.
Ahmad and Ahsan are charged with terrorism-related offenses stemming from their involvement in, and operation of "Azzam Publications," an entity in London that allegedly provided material support to the Chechen Muhjahideen, the Taliban and associated terrorist groups.
On Oct. 6, 2004, a federal grand jury sitting in Bridgeport, Conn., returned an indictment charging Ahmad with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, providing material support to terrorists, conspiring to kill persons in a foreign country and money laundering.
On June 28, 2006, a Bridgeport grand jury returned an indictment charging Ahsan with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, providing material support to terrorists and conspiring to kill persons in a foreign country. Ahmad and Ahsan have been detained since their arrests by British law enforcement authorities Aug. 5, 2004, and July 19, 2006, respectively.
The indictments allege that Ahmad and Ahsan were members of a group that supported the Chechen Muhjahideen, the Taliban and associated terrorist groups through various means, including the operation of a series of websites under the name of "Azzam Publications," which promoted violent jihad and featured jihadi training manuals, interviews with Al-Qaeda and Chechen leaders and associates, and stories and martyrdom videos of fallen jihadists.
The indictments allege that the defendants assisted the Taliban and the Chechen Mujahideen by providing funds, military items, communications equipment, lodging, training, safe houses, expert advice and assistance, personnel, transportation, false documentation and identification, and other supplies, knowing and intending that such conduct would support the military activities of these and associated groups.
Among other things, the indictments allege that Ahmad made efforts to secure GPS devices, Kevlar helmets, night vision goggles, ballistic vests and camouflage uniforms. In addition, Ahmad and Ahsan are alleged to have recruited and arranged for individuals to travel to Afghanistan to train for violent jihad.
The indictments further allege that a search of Ahmad's residence in the United Kingdom in December 2003 revealed Ahmad in possession of an electronic document setting forth what were previously classified plans regarding the makeup, advance movements and mission of a U.S. Naval battle group as it was to transit from California to its deployment in the Middle East. The document discussed the battle group's perceived vulnerability to terrorist attack. Ahsan is alleged to have possessed, accessed and modified the electronic battle group document in April 2001.
"Homeland Security Investigations continues to use every available resource to protect the American public from those who would compromise our national security through terrorism," said ICE Director John Morton. "This extradition demonstrates law enforcement's resolve to bring to justice anyone who supports those who would target American interests at home or abroad. As a result of HSI's extraordinary cooperation with our British partners, Ahmad and Ahsan will now face justice for their alleged crimes in a U.S. courtroom."
"This has been a lengthy process, but the government's commitment to presenting this case to a jury during a fair and open trial has never wavered," said U.S. Attorney David B. Fein, District of Connecticut. "The allegations contained in the indictments, which include promotion of terrorism and conspiracy to murder persons living abroad, are as serious today as when they were initially charged. I commend Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI and the many other law enforcement agencies here and in the U.K. for investigating this matter. I also want to acknowledge the Department of Homeland Security, FBI and Department of Justice attachés at the U.S. Embassy in London and the attorneys and staff at the Department of Justice's Office of International Affairs who have seamlessly coordinated with us during this extradition process."
"Today, more than at any other time in U.S. history, terrorism investigations involve the identification, disruption and dismantling of material and financial support systems," said Kimberly K. Mertz, special agent in charge of the FBI New Haven Division. "Without those support systems, terrorists and terrorist groups simply cannot survive. This investigation underscores Homeland Security Investigations' and the FBI's enduring commitment to combating terrorism by uprooting these global and often complex support networks."
This case is being investigated by a task force in Connecticut led by HSI. Other law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation include: FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force; Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Criminal Investigation Division; IRS, Criminal Investigation Electronic Crimes Program; Defense Criminal Investigative Service; and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
U.S. Attorney Fein praised the substantial efforts of law enforcement authorities from the Metropolitan Police Service's Anti-Terrorist Branch and the Extradition and International Assistance Unit, both within New Scotland Yard, whose efforts and assistance have been essential in the investigation in this case. U.S. Attorney Fein also thanked the U.S. Marshals Service for its assistance in the extradition of the defendants.
The case is being prosecuted by a team of federal prosecutors including Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Reynolds, District of Connecticut; and Attorneys Sharon Lever and Alexis Collins from the National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington.
Three men, two from Atlanta and one from New York, appeared in federal court Thursday, September 6, 2012, on charges that they conspired to bribe a federal immigration official in return for assistance with their immigration status, following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).
A federal grand jury indicted Hakeem Omar, 30, Ibrahim Barrie, 31, and Samuel Bolay, 24, Aug. 21 for conspiracy and bribery, and OPR special agents arrested all three men Sept. 5.
"These defendants are charged with attempting to circumvent the immigration process by offering bribes to a federal agent," said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. "The integrity of our immigration process has important implications for the security of our communities, and this case shows that we will take efforts to subvert this process seriously."
"The ICE Office of Professional Responsibility considers bribery of our employees an extremely serious offense, as these actions can potentially undermine the security of our nation. We swiftly investigate all bribery attempts and take appropriate enforcement action when warranted," said David P. D'Amato, special agent in charge of OPR for the Southeast Region.
According to information presented in court: Beginning in September 2010, and continuing until at least July, Omar, Barrie and Bolay paid bribes to an OPR special agent who was working in an undercover capacity, in exchange for immigration and other benefits.
Over a two-year period, the defendants paid thousands of dollars to the undercover special agent for what they believed was assistance with their immigration status in the United States, including naturalization assistance and obtaining a permanent resident card, commonly known as a green card.
The indictment charges Omar, Barrie and Bolay with conspiracy to commit bribery, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum fine of $250,000. In addition, each defendant is charged with separate bribery counts related to each bribe paid by him, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum fine of $250,000, or three times the equivalent of their bribes, whichever is greater.
Lastly, defendant Omar, a naturalized citizen, also faces a charge of naturalization fraud, for which he faces 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. If convicted, all defendants likely face removal from the United States. In determining the actual sentence, the court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment contains only allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government's burden to prove a defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
A federal grand jury in San Francisco indicted a suspected Bay Area gang member Tuesday, July 31, 2012, for allegedly attempting to kill three special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) when they went to his residence in May seeking to arrest him on racketeering charges.
Victor Flores, aka Little Creeper, 20, of Petaluma, Calif., is charged in a second superseding indictment that adds additional counts to the charges he already faces. The indictment alleges Flores attempted to kill three HSI special agents May 3. He is further alleged to have used a firearm during that incident.
According to the second superseding indictment, Flores is a member of the 500 Block/C Street Gang, which is a racketeering enterprise. Its members and associates agreed to conduct the affairs of the enterprise through, among other crimes, narcotics trafficking, extortion, robbery and murder. The 500 Block/C Street Gang was a Norteño gang that warred not only with Sureño gangs, but also with rival Norteño gangs.
"As this incident illustrated, our special agents put their lives on the line every day in their ongoing efforts to promote public safety," said ICE Director John Morton. "We want to thank the law enforcement officers who've worked tirelessly to investigate the shootings and we are gratified the alleged perpetrator will now be held to answer for those crimes."
Of the three HSI special agents who were wounded during the May enforcement action, one has returned to duty full time. The other two are continuing to undergo therapy and both are making progress on their recovery.
The defendant has been in federal custody since May 4, when he was arraigned on charges alleged in the first superseding indictment. The defendant's next scheduled court appearance is Aug. 3 for a hearing before U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston.
The maximum statutory penalty for each count of attempted murder of a federal agent is 20 years. The maximum statutory penalty for using and possessing a firearm is life in prison.
The charges are the result of an investigation by the FBI, HSI, and the police departments of Petaluma, South San Francisco and Daly City. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Acadia L. Senese and W.S. Wilson Leung with the support of Kevin Costello and Daniel Charlier-Smith.
