Tag Archives: extortion

Mexican Nationals Plead Guilty to Human Trafficking, Hostage Taking, and Alien Harboring

December 5, 2012blogalien harboring, alien smuggling, criminal alien, extortion, guilty plea, hostage taking, HSI, human trafficking, ICE, illegal alien, Mexico, ransom paymentsAlex Meyerovich

Two Mexican nationals pleaded guilty Thursday, November 29, 2012, to their roles in an ongoing conspiracy to hold hostage and harbor smuggled aliens for ransom payments, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas.

The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) offices in Houston, Washington, D.C., and Virginia; and Prince William County, Va., and Houston Police Departments.

Virgilio De la Torre-Santana, 27, and Aduato Aguilar-Lara, 34, pleaded guilty Nov. 29 before U.S. District Judge Gray H. Miller. De La Torre-Santana pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit hostage taking; Aguilar-Lara pleaded guilty to conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens.

On or about Aug. 17, family members and friends of two aliens who had been smuggled into the United States contacted local law enforcement in Prince William County, Va., to report receiving extortion calls demanding money for the aliens’ release. Family members wired money, which was received and picked up at various locations in Harris County, Texas. The two aliens were subsequently released and transported to Virginia.

After arriving in Virginia, the aliens contacted law enforcement to report being held hostage against their will at a location that was later identified as a residence located on Amblewood Drive in Houston. A few weeks later, special agents executed a search warrant at that location and encountered 26 illegal aliens, at least two of whom were juveniles held hostage inside the residence. Special agents also encountered and arrested De La Torre-Santana, Aguilar-Lara and a third defendant, Job Solis-Benito, 23, also a Mexican national.

According to the aliens, upon arrival in Houston, they were forced to undress and were informed they had been “sold” and would not be released until family members made payments to the men holding them hostage. While held hostage at the residence, victims reported they were held in their underwear, in locked rooms with boarded up windows and in deplorable conditions. The victims also indicated they were guarded by men constantly armed with a handgun. Victims reported they were not allowed to leave the residence until payment was sent for their release. Some victims said they were threatened with harm or death if payment was not received.

At the hearing on Thursday, November 29, 2012, De La Torre-Santana admitted he participated in the conspiracy to hold smuggled aliens hostage by making phone calls to relatives and friends of smuggled aliens, instructing them to send money via Western Union and/or Money Gram in exchange for the safe release of the aliens. He further admitted he recruited and paid other unindicted conspirators to pick up the money transfers at various locations within Harris County on his behalf.

Aguilar-Lara admitted to conspiring to harbor and conceal smuggled aliens inside the residence by providing the aliens with food, and by acting as a guard to ensure the aliens did not leave the residence until full payment for their release was received.

Sentencing for both De La Torre-Santana and Aguilar-Lara is scheduled for May 10. De La Torre-Santana faces up to life in prison; Aguilar-Lara faces up to 10 years imprisonment. Both also face a possible $250,000 fine.

The case against Solis-Benito is pending. He is charged with conspiring to commit hostage taking, hostage taking, conspiring to harbor illegal aliens, and harboring illegal aliens.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey N. MacDonald, Southern District of Texas, is prosecuting the case.

Polish Fugitive Wanted for Attempted Murder is Deported by ICE

October 17, 2012blogarrest, attempted murder, Board of Immigration Appeals, CBP, Chicago, commercial flight, criminal alien, custody, deportation, detention, DHS, ERO, extortion, field office director, foreign fugitive, fugitive, Fugitive Operations Team, HSI, ICE, illegal entry, international crime, Interpol, kidnapping, law enforcement, murder, Office of International Affaird, Poland, prison time, removal, sentence, serious crimes, warrant, WarsawAlex Meyerovich

A Polish national – who is wanted in his home country for extortion, kidnapping and attempted murder – was deported and turned over to Polish law enforcement officials Tuesday, October 16, 2012, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Dariusz Gordziejczyk, 42, departed from Chicago via commercial flight Monday, October 15, 2012, and arrived in Warsaw, Poland, Oct. 16.

An arrest warrant was issued for Gordziejczyk Sept. 14, 2001 by the Bialystok Criminal Court in Poland on charges of extortion, kidnapping and attempted murder. He was found guilty of the charges in Poland but has yet to serve his prison sentence. According to the arrest warrant, Gordziejczyk and others beat and kicked a man in 1999 in an attempt to extort money from him, but the victim escaped. Gordziejczyk was found guilty and sentenced to two years in prison. In another case, Gordziejczyk and others kidnapped a man in 1999, drove him into the woods, doused him with gasoline and threatened to set him on fire unless he gave them his BMW. Gordziejczyk was found guilty and sentenced to four years in prison, but he fled before he served his prison time.

Gordziejczyk fled to the United States in February 2006 entering on a visitor’s visa. He remained in the United States illegally after his visa expired in February 2007.

ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) received information from the FBI that Gordziejczyk might be living in the Chicago area and that he was wanted on an active arrest warrant in Poland. On July 12, 2011, HSI special agents located and arrested Gordziejczyk at his River Grove, Ill., residence and took him into custody.

On March 19, a federal immigration judge in Chicago ordered Gordziejczyk’s deportation. The Board of Immigration Appeals denied Gordziejczyk’s appeal July 12. He remained in ICE custody until he was turned over to Polish authorities Tuesday, October 16, 2012.

“This individual tried to escape justice in Poland for the crimes he committed there,” said Ricardo Wong, ERO Chicago field office director. “On a daily basis, ICE protects public safety by arresting and removing international fugitives who pose a threat to our communities.”

Since Oct. 1, 2009, ERO has removed about 455 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.

Members of Korean Gang Indicted for Extortion, Threats of Violence

June 29, 2012blogextortion, gang, HSI, ICE, indictment, Korea, Night Breeders, threat, violenceAlex Meyerovich

The alleged leader of the Korean Night Breeders street gang in Fairfax County, Va., and another gang member have been indicted by a federal grand jury for using fear, violence, and threats of violence to extort or attempt to extort various businesses in the Annandale area of Fairfax County, following an investigation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Han Sa Yu, 43, a citizen of the Republic of Korea living in Fairfax, Va., is alleged to be the leader of the Korean Night Breeders, and Je Hyung Yoo, 29, a citizen of the Republic of Korea who is unlawfully present in the United States and living in Rockville, Md., are each charged with conspiracy to commit extortion, attempted extortion and four counts of extortion. Each offense carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison, if convicted.

According to the indictment, from January 2006 through June 2012, Yu and Yoo allegedly approached owners of doumi, restaurants, and taxi businesses operating in theAnnandalearea ofFairfaxCounty, and threatened the owners with violence and beatings unless they paid a “tax” or “protection” money. The indictment alleges that Yu, Yoo, and other gang members attacked a taxi driver and threatened him with death, and after the beating instructed the victim to pay the demanded money. Another victim was threatened with further violence after being accused of calling the police about threats. Victims allegedly paid between $200 and $1,000 at a time and received threatening reminders each time another payment was due.

The investigation was conducted by HSI Washington, D.C. with assistance from the Fairfax County Police Department.

Criminal indictments are only charges and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.