Tag Archives: Interpol

ICE Deports El Salvador National Wanted for Murder

December 27, 2012blogarrest, criminal alien, deportation removal, detention, DHS, El Salvador, ERO, ERO Air Operations, foreign fugitive, HSI, ICE, ICE Office of International Affairs, immigration fugitive, Interpol, murderAlex Meyerovich

An El Salvadoran national wanted for aggravated homicide in his home country was removed from the United States Tuesday, December 18, 2012, and turned over to El Salvadoran law enforcement officials by officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

David Guzman-Urias aka El Directo, 24, is wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant in El Salvador which alleges that Oct. 28, 2007, at about 6:30 p.m., he committed aggravated homicide against David William Mejia with a machete. According to reports, the two men were drinking with another unidentified subject at a soccer field. Upon learning that Mejia had consumed all of the alcohol, Guzman allegedly thrust the machete into Mejia’s abdomen and continued to stab and cut him more than 20 times.

Guzman entered the United States illegally approximately Dec. 10, 2007. He was encountered by ERO after his arrest July 13 by the Loudoun County (Va.) Sheriff’s Office. Guzman entered ICE custody Aug. 14 and was served with a notice to appear before an immigration judge. A fingerprint check revealed the outstanding warrant for his arrest in El Salvador. On Sept. 25, an immigration judge ordered Guzman removed from the United States to El Salvador, where he will now face charges for murder.

“ERO is committed to working with our law enforcement partners overseas to ensure that individuals like this, who have violated our nation’s immigration laws and who are wanted for heinous crimes, are sent back to their home countries to face justice there,” said M. Yvonne Evans, field office director for ERO Washington. “We are also fortunate to have local law enforcement partners that value cooperation with ICE and today it has led to the removal of one more suspected murderer out of our communities.”

Guzman was flown via an ERO Air Operations (IAO) Unit charter flight to San Salvador,El Salvador, where he was turned over to the custody of the Policía Nacional Civil de El Salvador. Guzman’s removal was coordinated with the assistance of the ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Salvador.

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.

Macedonian National Wanted for Armed Robbery is Deported

October 11, 2012blogarmed robbery, arrest, criminal alien, deportation, detention, ERO, ICE, illegal alien, illegal entry, illegal immigration, Immigration court, immigration judge, Interpol, Macedonia, removal, theft, voluntary departureAlex Meyerovich

A Macedonian national wanted in his home country for a 2004 armed robbery and aggravated theft conviction was turned over the morning of Wednesday, October 10, 2012, to Macedonian law enforcement authorities. He was removed via commercial aircraft under escort by officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Nedzad Zverotik, 38, entered the United States illegally in May 1996 and was granted voluntary departure by an immigration judge in Feb. 1999. He complied with the order and departed the United States as instructed. In August 2011, he was arrested after attempting to illegally enter the U.S. from Canada and charged with improper entry by an alien. He was convicted of the charge in March 2012 and sentenced to time served before being turned over to ERO.

In July 2012, he was ordered removed to Macedonia by an immigration judge. While processing his removal, officers with ERO discovered Zverotik was the subject of an Interpol warrant for a 2004 aggravated theft and armed robbery conviction in his native Macedonia.

Zverotik was turned over to Macedonian law enforcement authorities in Skopje, Macedonia, Oct. 10 without incident.

“This removal is another example of the outstanding cooperation between the U.S. and our international law enforcement partners to ensure that fugitives around the world are brought to justice,” said Rebecca Adducci, field office director for ERO Detroit. “ICE is using its unique immigration enforcement authorities to safeguard our communities from criminal aliens and others who pose a public safety threat, including suspects fleeing justice in their own countries. As these violent criminal fugitives are discovering, they can’t outrun the law.”

ERO 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. ERO also prioritizes the arrest and removal of those who game the immigration system including immigration fugitives or those criminal aliens who have been previously deported and illegally re-entered the country.

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.

Italian Criminal Alien Deported to Home Country

August 28, 2012blogcriminal alien, deportation, ERO, HSI, ICE, Immigration and Nationality Act, INA, Interpol, Italy, removalAlex Meyerovich

An Italian national, wanted for theft, robbery, extortion, drug and weapon charges in Italy, was deported and turned over to Italian law enforcement authorities Thursday, August 23, 2012. He was escorted to the Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport in Rome by officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Tommaso Accetta, 44, had been arrested and convicted on three different occasions in New York. The latest conviction was for larceny and criminal possession of stolen property. He was subsequently sentenced to 30 days in prison. ERO officers encountered Accetta at Rikers Island April 3, 2012. At the conclusion of his criminal sentence, Accetta was turned over to ICE. Based on his criminal convictions, he was placed in immigration removal proceedings. Accetta – who was a lawful permanent resident – was ordered removed from the United States by an immigration judge May 1, 2012, for being in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). His lawful status was revoked, as he had committed more than two crimes involving moral turpitude.

“ERO will not allow individuals like Accetta to use the United States as a haven to avoid criminal charges in their home country,” said John Tsoukaris, field office director for ERO Newark. “ERO works closely with our local and international law enforcement partners to identify, arrest and deport aliens who are wanted in their home countries.”

Since Oct. 1, 2009, ERO has removed more than 335 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 Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Office of International Affairs, foreign consular offices in the United States, and Interpol to identify foreign fugitives illegally present in the country.

The removal was coordinated with HSI’s Office of International Affairs, Consulate General of Italy, ICE’s Office of Congressional Relations and the U.S. National Central Bureau of Interpol.

Honduran Fugitive Wanted for Homicide Arrested

April 12, 2012blogarrest, CAP, criminal alien, ERO, ICE, Interpol, USMSAlex Meyerovich

A Honduran national residing in Randallstown, Md., wanted in his native country for homicide and robbery was arrested Monday, April 9, by officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS).

“Removing known gang members and criminal aliens from our streets is an ERO priority in maintaining the safety and quality of life that the citizens of Maryland expect,” said Calvin McCormick, field office director for ERO Baltimore. “This arrest should serve as a reminder to foreign fugitives who mistakenly believe they can elude justice by fleeing to the U.S. ERO will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners, both domestic and abroad, not only to ensure that criminals are held accountable for their actions, but to safeguard the rights of law-abiding citizens here and overseas.”

Oscar Orlando Amador Centeno, 29, a known MS-13 gang member, was arrested April 9 by ERO Baltimore Field Office Criminal Alien Program (CAP) officers attached to the U.S. Marshals Service Capital Area Regional Task Force, at his Md. residence after he was identified as illegally re-entering the country after having been removed, a federal felony offense. Prior to his arrest, ERO officers obtained an INTERPOL Red notice issued in September 2011, stating that Centeno was wanted in his native country pursuant to an August 12, 2011 arrest warrant for murder and robbery. Additionally, Centeno has an active arrest warrant in Prince George’s County, Md., for the offense of theft.

On Jan. 29, 2010, Centeno was deported for the offense of illegal entry into the United States. Centeno illegally re-entered into the United States at an unknown time and place. He is currently in ERO custody pending removal from the United States.

According to Centeno’s INTERPOL red notice, on July 19, 2010 in Olancho, Honduras,
he struck a victim three times in the head with a machete on a soccer field and stole his wallet. If convicted on the murder charges, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

At the time of Centeno’s arrest, another male residing at the same residence, a 21-year-old citizen and national of Honduras, and also an MS-13 gang member, was encountered and arrested. He entered illegally into the United States at an unknown time and at an unknown place. He was taken into ERO custody pending immigration removal proceedings.

ERO enforces the nation’s immigration laws in a fair and effective manner. It identifies and arrests removable aliens, detains these individuals when necessary, and removes them from the United States. ERO prioritizes the arrest and removal of convicted criminal aliens, those aliens who pose a threat to national security, immigration fugitives and recent border entrants. ERO’s CAP provides ICE-wide direction and support in the identification and arrest of those aliens who are incarcerated within federal, state and local prisons and jails, as well as at-large criminal aliens.

Jamaican National Wanted for Murder Deported

April 3, 2012blogERO, ICE, Interpol, Jamaica, murder, removalAlex Meyerovich

A citizen and national of Jamaica wanted in his home country on criminal homicide charges was removed from the United States Thursday, March 29, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and turned over to the country’s law enforcement authorities.

Wendell Campbell, 34, was charged in 2007 by the Jamaican Constabulary Force of the Parish of St. Andrews with the unlawful killing of another person. The crime was
allegedly committed in 2004.

Campbell entered the United States legally on a tourist visa in 2005 and was encountered by Border Patrol in 2007 after he had remained longer than authorized. While awaiting removal proceedings, he was convicted federally in 2009 for possession and distribution of more than 50 kilograms of marijuana. After serving more than three years for the drug conviction, he was turned over in February 2012 to ERO officers in Cleveland who coordinated his removal to Jamaica. Louisiana-based ERO officers released him Thursday, March 29, to the custody of Jamaican authorities to face the murder charge.

“This individual attempted to elude justice in Jamaica by seeking safe haven in the United States,” said Rebecca Adducci, ERO field office director for Ohio and Michigan. “ICE prioritizes the arrest and removal of criminal aliens who pose a threat to our communities. We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners here and abroad to ensure these individuals are identified and brought to justice.”

Since Oct. 1, 2009, ERO has removed more than 335 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.

Brazilian Murder Suspect Arrested in Connecticut; Turned Over to Brazilian Authorities

March 27, 2012blogConnecticut, DHS, ERO, fugitive, HSI, ICE, InterpolAlex Meyerovich

A Brazilian national residing in Bridgeport, who was wanted in his home country for his involvement in a double homicide, was turned over to Brazilian law enforcement authorities the morning of Thursday, March 22, in Rio De Janeiro.
He was removed from the United States by officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). This individual was originally identified after ERO obtained a law enforcement tip from the Bridgeport Police Department.

Isaias Goncalves Dos Santos, 31, was arrested by ERO officers in Bridgeport Jan. 31, 2012. He remained in ERO custody until his removal today.

The Bridgeport Police Department had notified ERO that they suspected Dos Santos, who had an Interpol Red Notice out for his arrest, was residing in Bridgeport. According to
the Interpol Red Notice, Dos Santos allegedly devised a plan that executed the mayor of São Sebastião do Maranhão, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Mayor Gomes Gildeci Sampaio, and his friend, were both killed in the kitchen of the mayor’s home Oct. 13, 2009. Interpol and ICE Homeland Security Investigations’ (HSI) assistant attaché in Brasilia, Brazil, confirmed the biographical details and photographic facial identifiers with Brazilian authorities, which confirmed that Dos Santos was indeed wanted by their government.

An Interpol Red Notice is used to alert law enforcement agencies in member countries that arrest warrants have been issued and extradition will be sought for the fugitives. Being the subject of this type of notice is not a presumption of guilt. Interpol is the world’s largest international police organization with 190 member countries. It serves as a facilitator of
international police cooperation.

“Thanks to our excellent partnership with the Bridgeport Police Department, we have
ensured that this individual will be prosecuted for his alleged crimes in Brazil,” said Dorothy Herrera-Niles, field office director for ERO Boston. Herrera-Niles oversees ERO throughout New England. “His arrest and removal should serve as a reminder to foreign fugitives who mistakenly believe they can elude justice by fleeing to this country. ICE will
continue to work closely with its foreign law enforcement counterparts not only to ensure that criminals are held accountable for their actions, but to safeguard the rights of law-abiding citizens here and overseas.”

Since Oct. 1, 2009, ERO has removed more than 335 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 HSI’s Office of International Affairs, foreign consular offices in the United States, and Interpol to identify foreign fugitives illegally present in the country.