Texas man sentenced to 3 years in federal prison for smuggling 24 kilos of cocaine
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX – A 50-year-old man from Orange has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for attempting to smuggle more than 23 … Read more
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX – A 50-year-old man from Orange has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for attempting to smuggle more than 23 … Read more
San Diego, Calif. – A California man was sentenced Friday to prison time and ordered to pay thousands in restitution after federal agents uncovered his … Read more
BUFFALO, NY – A Brooklyn resident pleaded guilty Monday to smuggling hundreds of protected U.S. turtles overseas by labeling them as plastic toys and shipping … Read more
McALLEN, TX – A suspected human smuggler is in federal custody after a high-speed chase ended in a crash with law enforcement and the capture … Read more
A massive interstate cannabis smuggling operation has been dismantled following the seizure of more than 2,800 pounds of illegal marijuana products and the arrest of … Read more
Bhagavan “Doc” Antle, a zoo operator from Myrtle Beach who appeared in a Netflix documentary, was sentenced Thursday to 12 months in prison after pleading … Read more
DEL RIO, Texas — A Honduran man unlawfully residing in the U.S. has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for operating a major … Read more
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A Virginia resident was arrested Sunday on federal charges of conspiracy to transport an illegal alien after authorities say he arranged and … Read more
BOSTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested a Russian national Tuesday on charges of smuggling undeclared biological materials, including clawed frog embryos, into … Read more
Five Mexican nationals have been charged in connection with a deadly human smuggling incident off the coast of San Diego that left at least three … Read more
Title: Two Men Convicted in San Antonio Mass Smuggling Incident
**San Antonio, TX** – Two individuals were found guilty by a federal jury for their involvement in a 2022 alien smuggling event in San Antonio, which resulted in 53 fatalities and 11 injuries. A third individual implicated in this incident was extradited from Guatemala to face charges in the United States.
Felipe Orduna-Torres and Armando Gonzalez-Ortega were convicted for their participation in an alien smuggling operation. The operation involved transporting 66 individuals in a non-air-conditioned trailer across the U.S.-Mexico border, resulting in multiple deaths. They allegedly charged each individual and their families between $12,000 and $15,000 for the journey.
Orduna-Torres and Gonzalez-Ortega were found guilty on charges including conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death and serious bodily injury. Their sentencing is set for June 27, with the possibility of life imprisonment for the charges leading to death.
Rigoberto Ramon Miranda-Orozco was extradited as part of a joint effort between U.S. and Guatemalan authorities. He faces various charges related to the smuggling incident. The coordinated efforts have been part of a broader initiative
Hino Motors Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy and Fraud Charges
**Detroit, MI** – U.S. District Court Judge Mark A. Goldsmith has accepted Hino Motors, Ltd.’s guilty plea to a one-count criminal charge for engaging in a long-term conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government and consumers and illegally smuggling goods. The court imposed a $521.76 million criminal fine and a five-year probation period, including a prohibition on importing diesel engines into the United States. A $1.087 billion forfeiture money judgment was also issued against Hino.
Court records reveal that between 2010 and 2019, engineers at Hino Motors submitted falsified applications for engine certification approvals, violating the Clean Air Act. The engineers manipulated emissions test data and submitted fraudulent information, resulting in false fuel consumption values. Over 105,000 non-compliant engines were imported and sold between 2010 and 2022, primarily for heavy-duty trucks.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson expressed that Hino’s actions gave it an unfair advantage and generated over $1 billion in proceeds. The Justice Department is committed to enforcing emissions standards and addressing fraud. Acting U.S. Attorney Julie Beck emphasized the importance of
PHOENIX, Ariz. – A federal grand jury has indicted Edgar Guadalupe Jimenez-Aguilar, an illegal alien residing in Phoenix, on charges of conspiracy to transport illegal … Read more
MIAMI – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) removed Edgar Batista Matos, a Dominican national wanted for human smuggling that led to the deaths of … Read more
HOGANSBURG, N.Y. — A New York woman pleaded guilty Thursday for her role in a human smuggling conspiracy that led to the deaths of a … Read more
TAMPA, Fla. — Two Colombian men have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States, following a years-long investigation into an international … Read more
PHILADELPHIA – Two corrections officers at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility (CFCF) were arrested on Tuesday for their alleged involvement in separate contraband smuggling operations that … Read more
NEWARK, DE — A 20-year-old Newark man was arrested and charged after police recovered large quantities of marijuana and psilocybin mushrooms following a drug investigation … Read more
MIAMI—A federal jury has convicted Gabriel Donato-Mendez, 48, of Port St. Lucie, Fla., on charges of conspiracy to export U.S. defense articles and attempted smuggling … Read more
ORLANDO, Fla. — Jonen Castillo, 24, of Orlando, has pleaded guilty to smuggling goods out of the United States after attempting to conceal firearms and … Read more
MINNEAPOLIS—A federal jury in Minnesota convicted Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, and Steve Anthony Shand, 50, on Friday for their roles in a human smuggling operation … Read more
FERGUS FALLS, Minn. — Two men have been convicted on four counts of human smuggling for their roles in a cross-border operation that led to … Read more
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO — A Dominican national was sentenced Friday to nine years in federal prison for his role in a human smuggling operation … Read more
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Two Dominican nationals were sentenced this week for illegally harvesting and attempting to smuggle juvenile American eels, also known as … Read more
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A Dominican national pleaded guilty today to his involvement in a human smuggling operation that led to the deaths of … Read more
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK — Fabienne Osias, 40, a former federal correction officer employed by the United States Bureau of Prisons (BOP), pled guilty on Thursday … Read more
BOSTON, MA – The President of a freight forwarding company has been indicted for allegedly smuggling goods from the United States into Russia without a … Read more
White Plains, NY – Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah and Westchester County Department of Correction Commissioner Joseph K. Spano announced the arraignment of … Read more
MAYS LANDING, NJ—A correctional officer and two others face charges following a conspiracy to smuggle contraband into the Atlantic County Justice Facility. Christopher Piccioni, 33, … Read more
A Mexican national repeatedly deported from the United States was allegedly the leader of a stash house that smuggled drugs, ammunition and migrants across the … Read more
Harrisburg, PA – A 36-year-old man, Christopher “Fats” Texidor, was found guilty of smuggling thousands of pounds of marijuana worth millions of dollars through the … Read more
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, these flight attendants smuggled millions of dollars of drug money and law enforcement funds that they thought was … Read more
OTAY MESA, Calif., — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry discovered 5 parrots concealed in the truck … Read more
CALEXICO, Calif., — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Area Port of Calexico seized fentanyl and methamphetamine concealed within air compressors in … Read more
MIAMI— U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations worked with partners in the Eastern Caribbean to disrupt smuggling of 2.8 tons of cocaine, denying … Read more
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas ripped a national guardsman accused of smuggling an illegal immigrant during a Thursday Fox News appearance. Savion Johnson was … Read more
TERRE HAUTE, Indiana — Jordan Kelsheimer, a 25-year-old former corrections officer from Blanford, Indiana, has been sentenced to eight months in federal prison after pleading … Read more
EL PASO, TX – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working throughout the El Paso area ports seized over 252 pounds of narcotics in three … Read more
SYDNEY (Reuters) – A Chinese man arrested in Australia is awaiting extradition to the United States for alleged involvement in a North Korean scheme to … Read more
Annapolis, MD – A recent contraband interception at the Anne Arundel County Department of Detention Facility has led to charges against a visitor and an … Read more
Palm Beach, FL – In a major breakthrough during Human Trafficking Awareness Month, detectives from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office have arrested Miriam Lopez … Read more
CBP Officers Thwart Multiple Drug Smuggling Attempts at Paso Del Norte Border El Paso, TX – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the … Read more
ANNAPOLIS, MD – The Anne Arundel County Police Department’s Criminal Gang Unit, in coordination with the Department of Detention Facilities Security Threat Group, conducted a … Read more
DACA Recipient Arrested On ‘Human Smuggling’ Charges Harold Hutchison on January 24, 2024 Border Patrol agents arrested a Mexican national enrolled in the Deferred Action … Read more
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Anne Arundel County Police, in collaboration with Maryland State Police and Anne Arundel County Department of Detention Facilities, charged three inmates for … Read more
ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PA – Allegheny County Police arrested corrections officer William Kemp III for allegedly bringing illegal narcotics into the Allegheny County Jail. The arrest … Read more
TRENTON, NJ — Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) announced that a Mercer County correctional police officer, … Read more
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – December 14, 2023 SAN DIEGO – The captain and co-captain of a boat that capsized off Imperial Beach during a 2022 … Read more
HONOLULU – Richard Ascencio, 52, of Wahiawa, Hawaii, was sentenced yesterday by Chief United States District Judge Derrick K. Watson to 42 months in prison … Read more
MOBILE, AL – A Gulf Shores man was sentenced to four months in prison for illegally smuggling paper soaked in “spice,” a synthetic cannabinoid, to … Read more