News Releases

ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending July 1, 2011

June 30, 2011 — Mexican woman convicted of bulk cash smuggling using stuffed toy animals

On March 1, Jeanette Barraza-Galindo boarded a bus in Texas headed for Mexico. She attempted to evade currency-reporting requirements by smuggling more than $270,000 inside teddy bears and pillows. On June 30, she pleaded guilty to bulk cash smuggling. Full Story

June 29, 2011 — 114 individuals indicted on drug trafficking and money laundering in Puerto Rico

One hundred fourteen individuals were charged in a nine-count indictment with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin, cocaine, marijuana, oxycodone (commonly known as "Percocet") and alprazolam (commonly known as "Xanax"). Thirty of those individuals were charged with using and carrying firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. The indictment resulted from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and other law enforcement agencies. Full Story

June 28, 2011 — Michigan dairy farmers plead guilty to employing illegal aliens, fined $2.7 million

An investigation conducted by ICE HSI agents revealed that Aquila Farms, a Michigan dairy farm, failed to conduct the necessary inquiries to determine the employment eligibility of its work force, as required by federal immigration laws. From 2000 to 2007, Aquila Farms employed 78 different illegal aliens. Those individuals constituted almost 75 percent of the farm's workforce. Full Story

June 28, 2011 — Counterfeit Major League Baseball clothing seized during World Series being donated to Haiti's needy

More than 2,000 counterfeit Major League Baseball (MLB) items will soon be on their way to needy individuals in Haiti. ICE HSI agents seized the MLB knockoffs during enforcement actions in and around AT&T Park during last year's baseball playoffs and World Series. Full Story

June 28, 2011 — 13 arrested in San Juan during ICE-led anti-gang operation

Thirteen men and women were arrested during a three-day operation targeting violent gang members throughout the San Juan metropolitan area. During the operation, ICE HSI agents and officers with the Puerto Rico Police Department and the San Juan Police Department seized two firearms, two pistol magazines, 43 rounds of ammunition, 20 bags of cocaine, three bags of heroin, 1.5 pounds of marijuana, seven portable radios and $1,722 in cash. Full Story