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Fraudster Rodrick Florence Jr Jailed 72 Months for Bank Fraud, Stolen Identity Scheme

By
Deborah Ojuade
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0

Rodrick Florence Jr., 35, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced in federal court to 72 months in prison after having previously pled guilty to bank fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft charges. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

Court documents reflect that between 2021 and 2023, Florence possessed the personal identifying information of over 7,500 individuals for the purpose of fraudulently obtaining money from their bank accounts.

Florence worked with others to create fake identification and bank cards bearing real people’s information, which he and his conspirators used to access their account funds, including by making cash withdrawals and cashing counterfeit checks at various banks and credit unions through northwest Florida and across the nation.

From Navy Federal Credit Union alone, Florence and his accomplices attempted to access the accounts of over 250 of its members and successfully obtained over $335,000 using those stolen identities.

Florence was sentenced to 48 months for the bank fraud conspiracy count to be followed by a mandatory consecutive 24 months for the aggravated identity theft count, for a total prison sentence of 72 months.

Other members of the conspiracy were previously convicted in state court as part of this joint investigation. Freedom Prince Brown, 32, was sentenced to 48 months’ imprisonment after pleading to racketeering.

Ridel Baptiste Michel, 33, was sentenced to time served (approximately 20.5 months’ imprisonment) after pleading to racketeering.

James Matthew Spears, 60, was sentenced to time served (approximately 23.9 months’ imprisonment) after pleading to illegal use of personal identification information, grand theft, and possession of a forged driver’s licence.

Michelle Moore, 43, was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment after pleading to illegal use of personal identification information, grand theft, uttering forged bills or promissory notes, and possession of a forged driver’s licence.

“Navy Federal commends the efforts to hold accountable those who defrauded our members,” said a Navy Federal Spokesperson. “We fully support the pursuit of justice of the fullest extent permitted by the law.”

Carrollton Police Department Chief of Police Joel Richards said the sentencing of Florence Jr. “sends a clear message that criminal behavior of this nature will not be tolerated”.

Venezuelan National Gabriel Hurtado-Cariaco Suspected TdA Member Charged With Attempted Murder of U.S. Officer

By
Fejiro Anokwuru
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0

Gabriel Hurtado-Cariaco, 30, a citizen of Venezuela residing illegally in Bellevue, Nebraska, was charged on June 19, 2025, by criminal complaint with one count of attempted murder of a federal officer and one count of assault of a federal officer with infliction of bodily injury.

Special agents with Homeland Security Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation possessed an active immigration-related warrant for Hurtado-Cariaco’s arrest and encountered him in Sarpy County near his residence while he was driving. The agents initiated a traffic stop with lights and sirens.

Hurtado-Cariaco pulled over and exited his vehicle with his arms raised. The agents gave instructive commands to Hurtado-Cariaco and attempted to place him in handcuffs.

According to the complaint, Hurtado-Cariaco, a suspected member of Tren de Aragua, began to fight with a special agent, and both landed on the ground. Hurtado-Cariaco was able to throw the agent off him, launching the agent through the air, resulting in the agent forcefully striking their head and elbow on the pavement, injuring them.

A second special agent engaged with Hurtado-Cariaco to subdue and detain him.

Hurtado-Cariaco resisted, with both landing on the ground. While both agents tried to control Hurtado-Cariaco while on the ground, he manoeuvred behind the injured agent and placed that agent in a chokehold.

Hurtado-Cariaco ignored commands from the other agent and continued to choke the agent on the ground. The second agent placed Hurtado-Cariaco in a chokehold to stop the assault.

Hurtado-Cariaco released his chokehold on the agent and then used his leverage to break away from the second agent and ran. The agents pursued Hurtado-Cariaco on foot, locating him at his apartment in Bellevue and arresting him without further incident.

After the arrest, the injured agent was transported to the hospital for treatment.

“Deadly violence against law enforcement officers will not be tolerated by this Department of Justice,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We have charged this illegal alien with attempted murder.”

“The arrest and prosecution of this vicious Tren de Aragua gang member underscores our unwavering commitment to protecting our law enforcement officers in the line of duty,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Violent attacks from terrorists against those who serve our communities will be met with swift and decisive justice.”

“Violence against federal law enforcement officers in the line of duty will not be tolerated in Nebraska,” said U.S. Attorney Lesley A. Woods.

Hurtado-Cariaco appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Ryan C. Carson on June 20, 2025. Magistrate Judge Carson ordered the defendant detained and set a preliminary and detention hearing for June 24, 2025.

A criminal complaint is a charging document that contains one or more individual counts that are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not more than 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release of up to three years.  Hurtado-Cariaco was arrested on June 18, 2025, in Sarpy County, Nebraska.

TD Bank Insider Jhonnatan Steven Rodriguez Convicted of Accepting Bribes to Fraudulently Open Over 100 Bank Accounts; Faces 60 Years Imprisonment, $2m Fine

By
Shulammite Bello
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0

A former Florida-based employee of TD Bank, N.A., pleaded guilty to accepting bribes in exchange for fraudulently opening more than 100 bank accounts, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

Jhonnatan Steven Rodriguez, aka Jorge, 32, of Naples, Florida, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court to a two-count information charging him with one count of receipt of bribes by a bank employee and one count of making false bank entries.

Rodriguez’s sentencing is scheduled for November 25, 2025.

According to documents filed in these cases and statements made in court, in late 2022, Rodriguez began opening bank accounts for unknown individuals in exchange for bribes of approximately $200 to $250 per account.

During the scheme, Rodriguez accepted bribes in exchange for fraudulently opening approximately 140 bank accounts, some of which were used for fraud.

In carrying out this bribery scheme, Rodriguez would often forge the purported customers’ signatures on account opening documents. To protect his identity, Rodriguez used the alias “Jorge” on a text messaging app to communicate with the individuals seeking bank accounts.

The charge of receipt of bribes by a bank employee carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of the greater of up to $1 million or three times the value of the thing given, offered, promised, solicited, demanded, accepted, or agreed to be accepted.

The charge of making false bank entries carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million.

International Arms Dealer Kyrgyz national Sergei Zharnovnikov Convicted of Conspiring to Export Firearms to Russia

By
Fejiro Anokwuru
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0

Earlier Wednesday in federal court in Brooklyn, Kyrgyz national Sergei Zharnovnikov pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit export violations.

The defendant exported firearms and ammunition worth over $1.5 million from the United States to Russia, in violation of U.S. law.

When sentenced, Zharnovnikov faces up to 20 years in prison.

“The defendant admitted that he purchased American-made, military-grade firearms and re-exported them to Russia,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.  “Today’s guilty plea is the culmination of extensive investigative work, showing that this Office will not allow merchants of lethal weapons to flout U.S. sanctions.”

“Sergei Zharnovnikov admitted to violating export control laws by exporting US semi-automatic firearms to Russia via Kyrgyzstan.  Schemes designed to evade export laws are not only illegal but also endanger our country’s security. The FBI along with our partners will continue our efforts to defend the homeland by bringing to justice any criminal attempting to evade the laws enacted to protect our national security,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia.

According to court filings and statements made during the plea proceeding, the defendant is the owner of an arms dealer located in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (Kyrgyzstan Company-1). Since at least March 2020, the defendant, together with others, has conspired to export firearms controlled by the United States Department of Commerce (DOC) from the United States to Russia.

The defendant exported $1,582,836.52 worth of U.S.-manufactured firearms and ammunition from the United States to Russia.

In one transaction, he entered into a five‑year, $900,000 contract with a company in the United States (U.S. Company‑1) to purchase and export U.S. Company-1 firearms to Kyrgyzstan.

DOC issued a license for U.S. Company-1 to export firearms to Kyrgyzstan Company-1, but the license prohibited the export or re-export of the firearms to Russia.  Nevertheless, the defendant exported and re-exported U.S. Company‑1 firearms to Russia (via Kyrgyzstan), including semi‑automatic hybrid rifle-pistols from U.S. Company-1.

According to an export filing, U.S. Company-1 exported semi-automatic rifles from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Kyrgyzstan Company-1 on or about July 10, 2022.

On or about November 14, 2022, the General Director of a Russian company that is a client of the defendant executed a tax form listing the same semi‑automatic rifle‑pistols that U.S. Company‑1 had exported to Kyrgyzstan Company‑1, the defendant’s company.  The defendant did not apply for, obtain, or possess a license to export or re-export the semi‑automatic pistol-rifles to Russia.

Serial Hacker Kai ‘IntelBroker’ West Charged for $25m in Damages to Victims

By
Olaoluwa Fabuyi
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0

The United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Christopher G. Raia, announced the unsealing of a four-count criminal indictment and complaint charging Kai West, aka IntelBroker, aka Kyle Northern, with a years-long hacking scheme committed through the online identity IntelBroker.

West, using the IntelBroker identity, conspired with an online group named CyberN[——] to steal data from a telecommunications company, a municipal healthcare provider, an Internet service provider, and more than 40 other victims.

West and his online co-conspirators took that stolen data and offered it for sale online for more than $2 million.  Collectively, West, through the IntelBroker identity and his online co-conspirators, caused in excess of $25 million in damages to victims.

West was arrested in France in February 2025, and the United States is seeking his extradition. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla.

“Kai West, an alleged serial hacker, is charged for a nefarious, years-long scheme to steal victims’ data and sell it for millions in illicit funds, causing more than $25 million in damages worldwide,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia.

As alleged in the indictment and complaint, IntelBroker is the online moniker of West, who, in concert with his co-conspirators, compromised victims’ (typically companies) computer systems, exfiltrated data from those systems (e.g. customer lists and company marketing data), and then sold the stolen data for profit. West accomplished his scheme in connection with his leadership of an online hacking group called the “CyberN[——],” which frequented a particular internet forum (“Forum-1”).

Between approximately 2023 to 2025, West offered hacked data for sale approximately 41 times; and offered to distribute hacked data for free (or for Forum-1 credits) approximately 117 times. West and his co-conspirators have sought to collect at least approximately $2,000,000 by selling the stolen data. Based on information received from the victims of these breaches, West and his co-conspirators have cumulatively caused victim losses of at least $25,000,000.

Based on a review of West’s IntelBroker Forum-1 posts, approximately 158 threads started by West offered stolen data for sale, for Forum-1 credit, or for free, since in or about January 2023 through in or about February 2025. At least 41 of those 158 public messages sell data from companies based in the United States.

Of those 158 messages, approximately 16 provided a specific asking price for the stolen data, which cumulatively totals at least $2,467,000. At least 25 of the 158 public messages invited Forum‑1 users to private message IntelBroker (i.e. West) to negotiate a sales price.  The remaining 117 public messages offer hacked data for free to Forum-1 users or in exchange for Forum-1 credits.

At least 46 of the 158 public messages indicate that WEST worked in concert with a particular Forum-1 user (“CC-1”) to obtain the data through a “breach” (i.e. “hack”).  West’s public messages (as IntelBroker) indicate that he accepts payment via Monero, a cryptocurrency that utilises a blockchain with privacy-enhancing technologies to obscure transactions and achieve anonymity and fungibility.

West’s prolific posting (as IntelBroker) and his sales of stolen data have generated notoriety for the IntelBroker identity within the Forum-1 community. Indeed, from in or about August 2024 through in or about January 2025, “IntelBroker” was identified on Forum-1 as the site’s “owner.”

To further his username’s notoriety, West has associated different images with IntelBroker but primarily uses the following image as his calling card:

IB logo

West’s victims include a U.S.-based telecommunications provider. West, using the IntelBroker moniker, sold data from that telecommunications company, which included information about its customers.

West accessed that data through the illegal use of a server that was improperly configured. On or about March 6, 2023, West, using the IntelBroker moniker, authored a public message on Forum-1 titled “CyberN[——] [redacted reference to Victim] Database.”

In that post, West offered for sale data from a municipal healthcare provider, which included patient information such as names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, genders, health plan details, employer information, and other personal details from the victim’s patients.

West, 25, a British national, is charged with conspiracy to commit computer intrusions, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; accessing a protected computer to obtain information, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; and wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

U.S. Defence Employee Ewa Maria Ciszak Charged With Stealing Classified Documents

By
Samuel Nwite
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0

A civilian employee of the U.S. Department of Defence was arrested and made her initial court appearance to face charges of unauthorised removal and retention of classified documents.

Ewa Maria Ciszak, 64, of Huntsville, Alabama, is charged with knowingly removing and retaining classified documents and materials.

According to court documents unsealed today in the Northern District of Alabama, Ciszak has been employed at the Missile Defence Agency (MDA) since January 2023. As part of her duties, she held a security clearance and had access to classified materials related to the national defence of the United States.

Beginning in approximately February 2025 and continuing through June 18, 2025, Ciszak allegedly removed classified documents from MDA facilities without authorisation and transported them to her personal residence and vehicle, which were not authorised for classified material storage.

On June 18, 2025, pursuant to a search warrant authorised by the U.S. District Court, federal agents executed a search of Ciszak’s home, person, and vehicle. Agents recovered multiple documents bearing classification markings up to the SECRET level.

Some of the documents had been placed in her personal backpack that day and transported directly from MDA to her home.

New ‘Do-Tank’ AGESI Launches to Drive Africa’s Green Transition from Ambition to Action

By
Bola Akinloye
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0

A coalition of African leaders from government, finance, academia, and international development today launched the Africa Green Economy and Sustainability Institute (AGESI), a new pan-African “do-tank” designed to catalyze the continent’s shift to a sustainable and prosperous future.

The institute was unveiled during a high-level inaugural webinar themed “Setting the Stage for Africa’s Green Shift,” where speakers emphasized the urgent need to move beyond policy discussions to the implementation of concrete, bankable projects.

The webinar was chaired by Emeritus Prof. Babajide Alo, AGESI Patron and Former Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos. Declaring the event open, he captured the spirit of the day: “We have moved from an era of awareness to one of necessary action… See this webinar not as a passive event, but as the beginning of a vital collaboration.”

AGESI was introduced as a direct response to the continent’s most pressing question. “The ambition is undeniable, yet a single question echoes across our continent.

How? How do we move from ambition to concrete action?” asked Dr. Eugene Itua, the Executive Director of AGESI. “Today, we do not just launch an institute; we light a beacon… We are not a think-tank; we are a do-tank, built to cut through bureaucratic inertia and focus on tangible, life-changing results.”

AGESI performs the analytical role of a think-tank, but its defining purpose and measure of success is its ability to act as a do-tank—translating that intelligence into tangible action, executed projects, and a measurable green shift for Africa.

The launch drew powerful endorsements from key institutions. Ms. Ijeoma Ozulumba, Executive Director/CFO of the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), noted her institution’s unique position as the only Nigerian entity accredited to the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

“AGESI was conceptualized to answer this question,” she stated, positioning the institute as a critical partner.

The Nigerian government offered its full support, with the Hon. Minister of Environment, Hon. Balarabe Abbas Lawal, represented by Ms. Aisha Odetoro, Director of Environmental Assessment, declaring AGESI a “vital and necessary partner.” She added, “Where government sets the direction, AGESI can help build the road.”

Support from global partners was emphatic. Ms. Elsie Attafuah, the UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, noted that AGESI’s creation fulfills a key UNDP recommendation.

This was echoed by Dr. Rose Mwebaza, Director at the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), who celebrated AGESI as an institution capable of ensuring Africa’s voice is “our own” and derived from African realities. From the diaspora, Hon. Mark A.G. Brantley, Premier of Nevis, championed the need for South-South collaboration, stating, “The Caribbean stands with you as a committed partner.”

In a powerful keynote address, Dr. Ibrahim Pam, Chairman of the World Bank Inspection Panel, warned that the greatest risk to Africa’s green transition is not finance but a “failure of governance.” He cautioned against a “green resource curse” and urged AGESI to champion Governance, Transparency, and Accountability as the “unshakable bedrock of integrity.”

The collaborative framework for AGESI’s mission became clear through remarks from its partners. Prof. Francis Bisong, representing Prof. Anthony Nyong, the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) Director for Climate Change & Green Growth, framed the partnership in stark terms: “AGESI’s job is to be the catalyst… Our job at the African Development Bank is to finance the projects.”

This sentiment was matched by Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, Chair of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, who committed the nation’s universities to serve as AGESI’s “core engine for innovation and human capital development.”

The dialogue was deepened by a ‘Davos-Style’ expert panel moderated by Ms. Ozulumba. Ronald David Kayanja of the UN Information Centre urged AGESI to change the narrative about Africa’s capability.

H.E. Amb. (Dr.) Safiya Nuhu stressed that inclusive governance must deliberately close gender gaps. Tomas Sales of the UNDP’s Africa Sustainable Finance Hub highlighted AGESI’s unique role as a neutral convener, while Mfon Ekong Usoro, a maritime governance expert, emphasized the link between the green and blue economies and the need for a domestic carbon market.

Dr. Othniel Yila of the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub proposed national climate trust funds to empower communities. Finally, Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO of the Sterling One Foundation, outlined how AGESI could de-risk investments to unlock private sector capital.

With its formal launch, AGESI is now poised to begin the collaborative work of building Africa’s green future.

U.S. Attorney’s Office Filed 83 Border-related Cases This Week

By
Bola Akinloye
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0

Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 83 border-related cases this week, including charges of bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is the fourth-busiest federal district, largely due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district, encompassing San Diego and Imperial counties, shares a 140-mile border with Mexico.

It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world’s busiest land border crossing, connecting San Diego (America’s eighth largest city) and Tijuana (Mexico’s second largest city).

In addition to reactive border-related crimes, the Southern District of California also prosecutes a significant number of proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and national security. Recent developments in those and other significant areas of prosecution can be found here.

On June 14, Guillermo Navarro Cinco and Daniel Vazquez Mijares, both Mexican citizens and alleged captains of a smuggling boat, were arrested and charged with Attempted Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gain after they were intercepted by the U.S. Coast guard 25 miles off Point Loma.

Librado Lopez Ramirez, who was also aboard the boat and had been previously deported to Mexico, was arrested and charged with Attempted Entry After Deportation.

According to a complaint, Navarro Cinco and Vazquez Mijares attempted to smuggle nine people – including Lopez Ramirez – on a small boat; some passengers said they didn’t know how to swim and feared for their lives as the boat faltered under excessive weight.

On June 17, Erik Quintero Baez, a Mexican citizen, was arrested and charged with Importation of a Controlled Substance.

According to a complaint, when the defendant attempted to cross the border in his tractor-trailer at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, Customs and Border Protection Officers found three 20-liter jugs containing 167 pounds of liquid methamphetamine concealed in the cab.

On June 18, Jose Julian Ugalde Ramos and Luis Adrian Carrillo Sandoval, Mexican citizens, were arrested and charged with Deported Alien Found in the United States.

According to a complaint, Border Patrol agents found the defendants hiding in large bushes less than a mile north of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Also recently, a number of defendants with criminal records were convicted by a jury or sentenced for border-related crimes such as illegally re-entering the U.S. after previous deportation. Here are a few of those cases:

On June 20, Alejandro Arellano-Mejia, a Mexican national who was previously convicted of felony attempted murder, was sentenced to 15 months in custody for re-entering the U.S illegally. In 2014, a Frenso jury found Arellano-Mejia guilty of attempted murder for shooting another man in the chest with a shotgun following an altercation at an outdoor gathering.

On June 20, Baltazar Mendoza-Giron, a Mexican national, was sentenced to 15 months in custody for illegally re-entering the United States. Part of his sentence was imposed for violating supervised release after a 2024 conviction for illegal reentry. Mendoza-Giron also has previous convictions for harassment, for attempting to elude a pursuing police officer in a vehicle, and for criminally negligent homicide.

On June 20, Alejandro Arellano-Mejia, a Mexican national who was previously convicted of attempted murder with a deadly weapon, was sentenced to 15 months in custody for illegally reentering the U.S.

On June 20, Josue Roberto Suarez Ruiz of Honduras and Jesus Ernesto Peinado Armenta of Mexico were sentenced to 14 months and 12 months and one day, respectively, for transporting undocumented immigrants in an incident that became a high-speed chase.

The defendants failed to stop for Border Patrol agents and were ultimately apprehended after fleeing the vehicle and attempting to hide near trash cans on residential properties.

On June 20, Victor Armando Pena was sentenced to 12 months and one day in custody for illegally reentering the United States.

After serving a 17-year sentence for attempted murder with an enhancement for committing the act while actively participating in a criminal street gang, he was removed to Mexico on January 17, 2025, only to return illegally less than two weeks later on January 30, 2025. He was arrested by Border Patrol in Imperial Beach after he had illegally entered the U.S. via Jet Ski.

U.S. Largest Property Management Company Greystar to Pay Over $1.4m for Illegal Charges on Military Servicemembers

By
Shulammite Bello
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0

The Justice Department announced today that Greystar Management Services LLC will pay over $1.4 million to resolve allegations that it violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act by imposing illegal fees on military servicemembers who terminated their leases after receiving military relocation orders.

The department alleged that Greystar, the nation’s largest property management company with over 800,000 housing units under management, relied on software that it knew would automatically impose early termination charges on SCRA-protected servicemembers.

Greystar will set aside $1.35 million to pay affected military members and their co-tenants and will pay a $77,370 civil penalty. Greystar will pay triple damages to the servicemembers who paid the early termination charges.

The company will also make changes to its policies and training, including the adoption of SCRA-compliant software and forms at all its properties.

“We honour the service and sacrifices of our military by defending their rights under the law,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We are aggressively enforcing all laws, including the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, to protect our military servicemembers and veterans.”

“America’s servicemembers devote their lives to defending our nation and must be able to do so without undue burdens,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act protects our military families from unfair hardships such as penalties for terminating a housing lease to fulfill military orders. We will continue to defend and support those who keep our country safe.”

251 New Immigration Cases Filed in Western District of Texas, Fewest Since March

By
Fejiro Anokwuru
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0

On June 20, federal prosecutors in the district filed 251 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from June 13 through 19.

Among the new cases, U.S. citizens Derrick Eugene Huntington, 39, and Michael Jerear Smith Jr., 39, of Arlington, along with Christina Elena Duggan-Rankin, 42, of Huffman, were arrested at an immigration checkpoint near Carrizo Springs after they were allegedly discovered conspiring to transport four illegal aliens concealed in two separate vehicles.

A criminal complaint alleges that Huntington and Smith occupied a sedan carrying an illegal alien in the trunk, while Duggan-Rankin drove an SUV with one illegal alien hidden on the floorboard in the passenger compartment and two others in the rear of the vehicle.

The complaint further alleges that the three Americans admitted to conspiring with a facilitator to transport the aliens to a location near San Antonio for monetary gain, and that cell phone evidence revealed photos of the smuggled aliens and communications with the facilitator, along with a pin-drop of the pick-up location.

Huntington, Smith and Duggan-Rankin are each charged with bringing in and harboring aliens.

In a separate case, U.S. citizens Raul Hilario Alvarado, 24, and Timothey Nathan Easterling, 40, were arrested during a vehicle stop on Highway 85 near Big Wells for allegedly transporting two illegal aliens.

During an immigration inspection, a criminal complaint alleges, one backseat passenger was determined to be illegally present in the U.S., while a second illegal alien was found in the trunk of the vehicle.

According to the criminal complaint, both defendants admitted to conspiring with a facilitator and that they were going to be paid up to $2,500 for transporting the illegal aliens.

Mexican nationals Israel Moreno-Salgado, 38, and Jose Hector Ramirez Roman, 43, were arrested near Maverick and charged with illegal re-entry felonies. Moreno-Salgado has been previously removed from the U.S. eight times, the most recent being April 1. Ramirez Roman has been removed from the U.S. five times, the latest being January 22.

Honduran national Delmar Sanchez-Zuniga, 42, was also arrested near Maverick for illegal re-entry. The three-time felon, with convictions for possession of a controlled substance, possession of a firearm by a felon, and a previous illegal re-entry conviction, has been deported twice before, the last being December 13, 2024.

Mexican nationalJose Rodolfo Cruz-Lopez was arrested and charged with illegal re-entry in El Paso. Court documents reveal that, in May 2023, Cruz-Lopez was convicted of three felonies related to child abduction in Elizabethtown, North Carolina. He was removed from the U.S. to Mexico in October 2023.

Also a Mexican national, Edwin Enrique Carpio-Lopez was arrested for illegal re-entry, having been removed from the U.S. five times, the last being on February 11. Additionally, immigration records show Carpio-Lopez has been granted four voluntary returns and has been expelled 17 times under Title 42.

On June 14, U.S. Border Patrol agents in El Paso attempted a traffic stop after they allegedly observed multiple individuals enter a pick-up truck near the border.

A criminal complaint alleges that the driver of the truck, identified as Mexican national Ruben Alfredo Carrillo-Castruita fled at a high rate of speed in a reckless manner, running several red lights before exiting the vehicle at an intersection and fleeing on foot.

An assisting Texas Department of Public Safety trooper was able to apprehend Carrillo-Castruita, while the two passengers who fled from the pick-up were located by Border Patrol agents.

The complaint alleges that Carrillo-Castruita admitted to being hired by a smuggler and was going to be paid $300 per illegal alien. The defendant was previously convicted for transporting illegal aliens in New Mexico in May 2023.

Heriberto Betancourt-Morales, a Mexican national, was charged in a criminal complaint for conspiracy to bring in aliens as the result of a U.S. Border Patrol investigation that identified him as a person involved in human smuggling.

The complaint alleges that Betancourt-Morales was previously removed from El Paso to Ciudad Juarez on September 21, 2024, and had transported multiple illegal aliens in May 2025. In one victim account, Betancourt-Morales allegedly carried a makeshift ladder for an alien to climb the border fence and pushed them over the fence causing the alien to fall and sustain injuries.

Another victim cited in the complaint alleged that Betancourt-Morales and other smugglers transported her to multiple stash houses in Mexico prior to making illegal entry using a makeshift ladder to climb the fence.

A third victim also identified Betancourt-Morales as an individual who conducted random checkups and gave orders at a stash house in Ciudad Juarez, where she was harbored with more than 10 other subjects.

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