Tag Archives: Fugitive Operations Team

Former Peruvian Police Officer Deported by ICE for Weapons Trafficking

February 19, 2013blogarrest, Board of Immigration Appeals, criminal alien, deportation, detention, DHS, ERO, foreign fugitive, Fugitive Operations Team, HSI, ICE, ICE Office of International Affairs, Peru, removal, U.S. Marshals Service, weapons traffickingAlex Meyerovich

A former Peruvian police officer wanted in his native country for weapons trafficking was handed over to authorities in Lima late Wednesday, February 13, 2013, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following his capture in Stockton, Calif.

Hector Antonio Llontop-Novoa, 51, was repatriated to Peru on board a commercial aircraft accompanied by Sacramento-based officers with ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Upon arriving in Lima, the ERO officers handed Llontop-Novoa over to awaiting officials from the Peruvian National Police (PNP).

In July 2010, Interpol’s U.S. National Central Bureau received a “red notice” indicating Llontop-Novoa was the subject of a criminal warrant issued by Peru charging him with a “national security offense.” Specifically, Peruvian authorities allege that in July 2000 while Llontop-Novoa was serving as a captain with the PNP he supplied government small arms to a criminal or terrorist organization. The weapons were purportedly used in an armed assault that occurred in Peru Aug. 29, 2000.

Less than a month after the attack, U.S. Department of Homeland Security databases indicate Llontop-Novoa entered the United States on a visitor’s visa and subsequently received an extension authorizing him to remain in the country through Sept. 2001.

In April 2011, after receiving information indicating the Peruvian fugitive might be in northern California, the U.S. Marshals Service sought ICE’s assistance to locate and capture him. Llontop-Novoa was taken into custody May 17, 2011, by ERO’s Sacramento-based Fugitive Operations Team and officers from the U.S. Marshals Service.

This week’s repatriation is the culmination of a nearly two-year effort by ICE to gain Llontop-Novoa’s removal. Following his capture, ICE placed Llontop-Novoa in removal proceedings and an immigration judge ordered him deported in June 2012. He appealed the decision, but the Board of Immigration Appeals dismissed the appeal late last year, paving the way for his removal.

“Criminals who seek to escape responsibility for their actions by fleeing to the United States will find no sanctuary here,” said Michael Vaughn, assistant field office director for ERO Sacramento. “As this case makes clear, ICE is working closely with its law enforcement counterparts here and overseas to promote public safety and hold criminals accountable as no matter where they commit their crimes.”

Since Oct. 1, 2009, ERO has removed more than 566 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.

Polish National Wanted for Reckless Homicide is Deported by ICE

December 3, 2012blogarrest, criminal alien, deportation, detention, DHS, ERO, Fugitive Operations Team, HSI, ICE, illegal alien, immigration fugitive, removalAlex Meyerovich

A Polish national – who is wanted in his home country for killing a pedestrian by driving recklessly – was deported and turned over to Polish law enforcement officials Tuesday, November 27, 2012, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Bartosz Sikorski, 32, departed Monday from Chicago via commercial flight and arrived in Warsaw, Poland, Nov. 27.

The Bialystok Criminal Court in Poland issued an arrest warrant for Sikorski Oct. 9, 2002 on charges of reckless homicide. He is wanted in connection with a traffic fatality June 8, 2002 that killed a pedestrian. Sikorski was allegedly driving recklessly disregarding the speed limit when he hit a woman who later died at the hospital.

Two months later, Sikorski fled to the United States in August 2002, entering on a visitor’s visa. He remained in the United States illegally after his visa expired in June 2003.

In March 2007, Sikorski was convicted in Cook County for felony theft by deception. He was encountered by ICE officers at Cook County Jail in November 2009 and placed into removal proceedings.

On March 24, 2010 a federal immigration judge in Chicago ordered Sikorski to depart the United States voluntarily and gave him until April 22, 2010 to comply. He became an immigration fugitive when he failed to comply with the immigration judge’s order.

ICE’s Fugitive Operations Team officers arrested Sikorski April 26, 2012 and took him into custody pending removal to Poland. ICE officers turned him over to Harwood Heights, Ill., police after their records checks revealed an outstanding criminal warrant for Sikorski in Harwood Heights. He was convicted May 24 of illegally using an account number, which is a felony. On June 5, Sikorski was released from the Cook County Jail.

In August, ICE received information from the FBI that Sikorski was wanted on an active arrest warrant in Poland. On Oct. 4, ICE officers and FBI agents took Sikorski into custody outside the Cook County Jail where he had been detained on local charges and released.

Sikorski has remained in ICE custody since Oct. 4 until he was turned over to Polish authorities Tuesday, November 27, 2012.

“This man allegedly killed an innocent pedestrian in Poland and then fled to the United States to avoid facing justice for that crime,” said Ricardo Wong, ERO Chicago field office director. “We will continue to tirelessly pursue criminal fugitives who seek safe haven in this country.”

Since Oct. 1, 2009, ERO has removed more than 500 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.

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.

Mexican National Gets Four Year Sentence for Illegal Re-entry

September 26, 2012blogarrest, criminal alien, deportation, detention, ERO, felony, Fugitive Operations Team, ICE, illegal alien, illegal re-entry, removalAlex Meyerovich

A previously deported Mexican national was sentenced the week of September 20, 2012, to more than four years in prison for illegally reentering the United States after deportation. The sentence resulted from an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

David Mendoza-Guzman, 42, a Mexican national, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Barbara B. Crabb, Western District of Wisconsin, to 57 months in prison for illegally reentering the United States after having been deported. He pleaded guilty to the charge July 18. Reentering the United States after being formally deported is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Mendoza-Guzman was previously removed from the United States May 27, 2003. After his deportation, Mendoza-Guzman returned to the United States without permission. On March 25 he was arrested by ERO Fugitive Operations Team officers outside his residence in Alma Center, Wis.

Mendoza-Guzman’s 57-month sentence was based in large part on his continued criminal activity while in the United States. His prior criminal conduct includes, among other crimes, a drug trafficking conviction, a 4th degree sexual assault conviction, and a resisting arrest conviction where the defendant got out of his vehicle after a traffic stop and confronted officers with vulgar language and threats.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Munish Sharda, Western District of Wisconsin, prosecuted the case.

ICE Deports Slovenian Fugitive for Blackmail

September 17, 2012blogarrest, blackmail, deportation, detention, ERO, fugitive, Fugitive Operations Team, ICE, Interpol, removal, Slovenia, St. LouisAlex Meyerovich

A Slovenian national, who is wanted in his native country for blackmail, was deported Tuesday, September 11, 2012, by officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

After being flown to New York City from St. Louis, Okica Pajazetovic, 35, was escorted to Ljubljana, Slovenia, on a commercial flight. Upon his arrival in Slovenia, ERO officers transferred him to Slovenian authorities.

According to Slovenian court records, Pajazetovic’s criminal charges stem from two separate incidents in December 2001 and March 2003.

In 2001 he allegedly demanded 1,000 Deutsche Marks, Germany’s former currency, from another man. When his victim refused to pay, Pajazetovic is alleged to have made threatening phone calls to the victim’s wife and daughter. In 2003 Pajazetovic allegedly illegally purchased a pistol and ammunition; the next day he accosted another victim, a relative of his first victim, by holding the weapon to his head at the James Dean Pub in Ljubljana.

On March 26, 2009, Judge Mateja Luzovec from the District court in Ljubljana in Slovenia issued an arrest warrant for Pajazetovic on blackmail charges.

On Nov. 25, 2010, Interpol published a warrant on Pajazetovic for blackmail.

Based on information in the Interpol notice, U.S. law enforcement authorities were guided to a relative of Pajazetovic’s living in the St. Louis area. Pajazetovic was apprehended July 31 without incident at his St. Louis residence by members of ERO’s local Fugitive Operations Team.

“This removal allows Slovenian authorities to continue to seek justice for crimes committed in their country,” said Ricardo Wong, field officer director for ERO St. Louis. “We are resolute in our commitment to identify, arrest and remove aliens who falsely believe they can escape legal issues in their home country by hiding in ours.”

Records show that Pajazetovic entered the United States in 2003 in Chicago as a visitor, and failed to leave when his visa expired. He was issued an Order of Deportation the day he was arrested on immigration violations. He has remained in ERO custody since his July 31 arrest.

ERO’s Fugitive Operations Teams are specially trained to apprehend foreign fugitive aliens. Interpol, the world’s largest international police organization with 188-member countries, facilitates international police cooperation.

ICE Target Operation SOAR Removes 50 Convicted Alien Sex Offenders

September 14, 2012blogchild predator, criminal alien, DPS, ERO, Fugitive Operations Team, HSI, ICE, illegal alien, illegal reentry, National Fugitive Operations Program, Operation SOAR, sex offender alien, sex offender alien removal, TexasAlex Meyerovich

Following a five-day Texas-wide U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation, 50 convicted alien sex offenders and other criminal aliens were arrested by officers with ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) also assisted with this operation. Twenty four of those arrests occurred in the north Texas area.

The goal of this operation, dubbed “SOAR” (Sex Offender Alien Removal), was to identify, locate and arrest aliens who have convictions for sex crimes, especially sex crimes against children. This is the first statewide operation that specifically targeted this criminal element. This operation was coordinated with ERO’s 16 Fugitive Operations Teams throughout Texas, and Texas DPS. Four Fugitive Operations Teams operated from Dallas and north Texas.

ERO’s Operation SOAR began Saturday, September 8, 2012, and ended September 12, 2012.

“This operation was specifically designed to target and arrest criminal aliens who have been convicted of sex crimes,” said Simona L. Flores, field office director for ERO Dallas. “By removing these criminal aliens from our streets and our country, we immediately improve public safety in these communities.” Flores oversees 128 counties in north Texas and the state of Oklahoma.

“DPS is proud to have worked together with ICE in this successful operation to target and apprehend ruthless criminals who prey on Texans,” said Texas DPS Director Steven McCraw. “These types of coordinated efforts between law enforcement agencies at all levels are critical to protecting our communities and keeping criminals off our streets.”

Of the 50 men arrested throughout Texas, 47 had felony convictions, and 40 had convictions for sex crimes. One criminal alien residing in Houston had been convicted of murder.

Of the 24 men arrested in north Texas, 15 had prior convictions for sex crimes such as: indecency with a child, sexual conduct; unlawful sexual intercourse with a child, aggravated sexual assault of a child; sex offense against a child, fondling; and sexual battery of a minor. Other previous criminal convictions of those arrested in north Texas also include the following: possessing marijuana, evading arrest, drunken driving, alien smuggling, and aggravated robbery.

Seven of those arrested in north Texas had been previously removed from the country and illegally re-entered the United States, which is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison.

All those arrested during operation SOAR in north Texas include men from the following countries: Mexico (19), Sudan (2), Laos (1), Nicaragua (1), and Vietnam (1). Those arrests occurred in the following communities: Dallas (11), Cleburne (3), Amarillo (2), Caddo Mills (1), Fort Worth (1), Garland (1), Lubbock (1), Mesquite (1), Perryton (1), Plano (1) and Waxahachie (1).

Following are criminal summaries of three men arrested in north Texas during this operation:

A 44-year-old man from Mexico was arrested by ERO officers Sept. 8 in Dallas. He had been convicted in 1989 in California of unlawful intercourse with a minor and sentenced to 365 days confinement and 60 months’ probation. After completing his prison sentence, he was deported and illegally re-entered the United States. He was again deported in November 1999, and is again being processed for deportation.
A 46-year-old man from Mexico was arrested by ERO officers Sept. 8 in Dallas, Texas. He had served six years in prison following his 1996 conviction in Houston, Texas, for indecency with a child – sexual contact. He was deported in 1999 and again in 2003. He faces charges of failing to register as a sex offender, and will be deported again after he completes any criminal proceedings against him.
A 46-year-old man from Mexico was arrested by ERO officers Sept. 9 in Caddo Mills, Texas. He was convicted in March 2006 in Dallas County, Texas, for aggravated sexual assault of a child, and was sentenced to 10 years confinement, probated for 10 years. As an alien convicted of an aggravated felony, he is eligible for deportation.

These arrests were 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.

ICE is focused on smart, effective immigration enforcement that targets serious criminal aliens who present the greatest risk to the security of our communities, such as those charged with or convicted of homicide, rape, robbery, kidnapping, major drug offenses and threats to national security. ICE also prioritizes the arrest and removal of those who game the immigration system including immigration fugitives or criminal aliens who have been previously deported and illegally re-entered the country.

ICE Sting Operation Arrests Over a Dozen Criminal Aliens in Maryland

September 5, 2012blogarrest, Baltimore Fugitive Operations, criminal alien, deportation, DHS, ERO, Fugitive Operations Team, HSI, ICE, immigration, National Fugitive Operations Program, removal, targeted enforcement operationAlex Meyerovich

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, officers of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE’s) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Baltimore Fugitive Operations teams arrested 17 public safety threats in Prince George’s County, Md., and surrounding areas as part of a three-day “Cross Check” enforcement operation targeting at-large criminal aliens and immigration fugitives.

“The results of this targeted enforcement operation underscore ICE’s ongoing commitment to strengthening and protecting public safety with a focus on the arrest and removal of convicted criminal aliens and those that game our nation’s immigration system,” said Calvin McCormick, field office director for ERO Baltimore. “ERO officers will continue to work tirelessly in protecting the public safety of Maryland communities by locating, apprehending and removing these at-large criminal aliens and repeat immigration violators that have blatantly disregarded the law. Maryland is safer today because there are 17 fewer criminal aliens in our neighborhoods.”

This three-day operation, which commenced Aug. 28 and ended Aug. 30, resulted in the arrest of 17 males, all with prior criminal convictions including six with assault convictions (including assault on a police officer), three with drug distribution convictions, two with weapons convictions, three with larceny convictions, one with an arson conviction, and one has multiple DUI convictions. They are from countries spanning the globe including the Bahamas, El Salvador, Jamaica, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua and Sierra Leone. The 17 were residing in the following Maryland communities: Bowie, Brentwood, Glenn Dale, Hyattsville, Lanham, Oxon Hill, Seat Pleasant, Riverdale, Silver Spring and Upper Marlboro.

In addition to being convicted criminals, two of those arrested were also immigration fugitives who had previously been ordered to leave the country but failed to depart. Additionally, two were illegal re-entrants who had been previously removed from the country, a federal felony offense.

The arrestees include:

A 22-year-old citizen and national of Mexico, who was residing in Lanham, Md., convicted in December 2011 in Prince Georges County of second degree assault. He is currently in ERO custody pending immigration removal proceedings.
A 44-year-old citizen and national of El Salvador, who was residing in Lanham, Md., convicted in January 1995 in Prince George’s County of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and in October 1994 in Montgomery County of theft. Additionally, he was deported to El Salvador in September 1998 and illegally re-entered the U.S. on an unknown date at an unknown place. He is currently in ERO custody pending his removal to El Salvador.

These arrests were 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.

Indianapolis Target Operation Snags Two-Dozen Criminal Aliens

July 18, 2012blogarrest, criminal alien, deportation, detention, DHS, ERO, Fugitive Operations Team, HSI, ICE, illegal alien, illegal reentry, National Fugitive Operations Program, removalAlex Meyerovich

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, 24 convicted criminal aliens, immigration fugitives and immigration violators were arrested during a three-day operation in the Indianapolis area.

This operation concluded Monday, July 16, 2012, and was conducted by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) teams in Indianapolis.

Of the 24 arrested, 17 had prior convictions for crimes, such as: possessing drugs, resisting arrest, drunken driving, illegally re-entering the U.S. after deportation and criminal trespass. Three of the 24 were immigration fugitives who had been previously ordered to leave the country but failed to depart. Another three had been previously deported and illegally re-entered the United States, which is a felony.

Following is the nationality breakdown of the 23 men and one woman arrested: Mexico (17), Guatemala (3), El Salvador (2), Honduras (1), and Venezuela (1). The majority of the arrests occurred in Indianapolis, with some arrests made in Franklin and Plainfield.

Following are summaries of two individuals arrested during this operation:

A 23-year-old Mexican national had been convicted of drug possession, and was sentenced to 180 days. He was arrested July 15 at his Indianapolis residence and remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
A 33-year-old Guatemalan national had been convicted of resisting a law enforcement officer and was sentenced to a year in prison. He was arrested July 16 at his residence inIndianapolis. He remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

“ERO is committed to making our communities safer by arresting and removing convicted criminal aliens and immigration fugitives,” said Ricardo Wong, field office director for ERO Chicago. “By targeting our efforts on these egregious offenders, we are improving public safety while making the best use of our resources.”