News from May 2023


President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Major Disaster Declaration for the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians

News Release: WASHINGTON ­-- FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians to supplement tribal recovery efforts in the areas affected by the severe storm and flooding March 11-16, 2023.


United States Secret Service Hosts Visiting Police Executives at White House

News Release: The U.S. Secret Service hosted visiting police executives Saturday at the White House as part of National Police Week. The guests were from theAtlanta Police Department,Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department,Chicago Police Department,Miami-Dade Police Department,Milwaukee Police Department, Philadelphia ...


California Man Pleads Guilty in Identity Theft and Fraud Scheme

News Release: RICHMOND, Va. A Los Angeles, California, man pleaded guilty today to fraud and identity theft charges in connection with stealing the identity of the owner of a Richmond auto shop, Lotsey & Hardy Tire Company.


Temporary Disaster Recovery Centers Operating in Broward County Extend the Stops

News Release: LAKE MARY, Fla. - The State of Florida and FEMA are operating Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) in Broward County.


Become a federal employee with the TSA at Orlando International Airport

Release: The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is holding a recruiting event on June 2-3, 2023 to assist individuals interested in an exciting new federal career as a Transportation Security Officer (TSO) at Orlando International Airport (MCO.)


Baton Rouge Woman Pleads Guilty to Filing Numerous PPP and EIDL Loan Applications Totaling More than $1 Million and Laundering the Fraudulent Proceeds

News Release: United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that Tiera R. Lands, age 30, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson to wire fraud and money laundering in connection with numerous false and fraudulent applications that she filed to obtain funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program in 2020 and 2021.


Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Offices and Helpline Closed Monday in Observance of Memorial Day

News Release: SANTA FE, N.M. -- The Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Offices in Mora, Las Vegas and Santa Fe will be closed on Monday May 29, 2023, in observance of Memorial Day.


Convicted killer gets 30 years for meth trafficking following HSI, federal partner investigation

A South Carolina man and Georgia woman were sentenced May 18 for smuggling drugs through McAllen following an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.


Texas woman sentenced for exporting pistols to Mexico after HSI McAllen, federal partner investigation

A Texas woman was sentenced to three years in federal prison on May 18 for exporting firearms and ammunition. The sentence follows a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigation with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.


HSI arrests former Bosnian prison camp supervisor charged with decades-long scheme to conceal wartime involvement

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New England arrested a Swampscott man charged May 17 for allegedly participating in beatings and other prisoner abuses in Bosnia and Herzegovina, misrepresenting this material fact in his immigration application to come to the United States and, later, to become a U.S. citizen.


ICE conducts removal flights May 19

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted multiple removal flights including Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador and Honduras as part of dozens of flights conducted each week.


Man convicted of torture, exporting weapons parts, related services to Iraq

A federal jury convicted a Pennsylvania man on May 19 for numerous crimes, including the 2015 torture of an Estonian citizen in connection with the operation of an illegal weapons manufacturing plant in Iraq’s Kurdistan region.


ERO Boston arrests Guatemalan citizen charged with child rape

Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston arrested an unlawfully present citizen of Guatemala on May 15. The man was recently arraigned by local authorities on multiple counts of aggravated rape of a child.


ERO New York City removes noncitizen to Israel

Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) New York City removed an unlawfully present Israeli foreign national on May 17. The man was convicted multiple times of criminal possession of stolen property.


ERO San Francisco removes felon to Mexico

Officers with Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) San Francisco, with assistance from officers with ERO San Diego, removed a felon and foreign fugitive to Mexico on May 4. Robin Salinas Macal, 30, a Mexican national, was removed after having recently served time at the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu for distribution of narcotics.


ERO Boston arrests Jamaican citizen facing drugs, firearms charges

Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston arrested an unlawfully present citizen of Jamaica in Charlestown on May 18. The individual is facing multiple local criminal charges including narcotics, firearms and motor vehicle charges.


HSI Charleston personnel recognized for outstanding contributions to law enforcement in West Virginia

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia recently recognized several members of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Charleston for their work in combating crime in West Virginia. The HSI Charleston special agents and support staff received recognition during two separate ceremonies in Charleston in May 2023.



Man sentenced to 30 years in prison for coercion, enticement and possession of child sexual abuse material

U.S. District Court Chief Judge Raul Arias Marxuach sentenced Francisco Xavier Ortiz-Colon to 30 years in prison, 10 years of supervised release, and registration as a sex offender for nine counts of production of child pornography, eight counts of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual conduct, one count of receipt of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. On November 9, 2022, Ortiz-Colon was found guilty of 19 counts of child pornography offenses.


CBP Issues Tips as Caribbean Summer Travel Starts

Agency reiterates prohibition on pork related products from the Dominican Republic due to African Swine Fever