ICE-led task force arrests 4 for selling counterfeit identity documents

ICE-led task force arrests 4 for selling counterfeit identity documents

DALLAS - Four foreign nationals were arrested on Thursday for allegedly for manufacturing and selling counterfeit documents. The arrests were made by special agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations, and investigators with the Dallas County District Attorney's Office
"These arrests and investigation were initiated by members of the ICE-led Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. This task force is comprised of more than 30 local, state and federal agencies that share their experience, expertise and law enforcement authorities," said John Chakwin Jr., special agent in charge of the ICE HSI in Dallas. "Together, these agencies help ensure that government identification documents are valid, and those receiving government benefits are legitimate." Chakwin oversees 128 counties in north Texas and the state of Oklahoma.
The successful operation resulted in four arrests at local multi-vendor bazaars including Vikon Village Flea Market and the Garland Plaza Bazaar, both in Garland, Texas, and the Garibaldi Mercado Bazaar and the Plaza Latina Bazaar, both in Dallas. The suspects - Kiros Wolde Selassie, Rossy Ruiz, Rosalba Villaverde-Acevedo and Yazmin Hinojosa - were all operating "ID stores" at these bazaars, where they made counterfeit identification documents and sold them to customers. Producing a counterfeit Texas identification card is a second-degree felony with a punishment range of two to 20 years in prison.
"In order for law enforcement to be successful at cracking down on criminal activity and preventing citizens from becoming victims, agencies have to work together and support each other," said Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins. "We were happy to work with ICE on this important operation and we hope that today's arrests send a strong message that we will not tolerate the production of fraudulent identification documents in Dallas County, particularly when one of the alleged criminals was targeting minors."
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ICE arrests 16 convicted criminal aliens, fugitives in Reno-area enforcement surge

RENO, Nev. - A total of 16 convicted criminal aliens and immigration fugitives have been arrested following a four-day enforcement operation in the Reno area carried out by officers from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).
During the operation, which ended Friday morning, ICE officers located and took into custody 15 deportable aliens with prior criminal convictions, including a 40-year-old woman from Mexico who was ordered deported by an immigration judge earlier this year based upon her 2003 conviction for willfully endangering a child. Another one of the criminal aliens taken into custody is a documented member of the MS-13 street gang with prior arrests for robbery and stalking. In addition to the foreign nationals with prior criminal convictions, ICE officers also arrested one non-criminal immigration fugitive, that is an alien who has a final order of deportation. Of those taken into custody during the enforcement action, two have already been removed from the United States.
The four-day surge was conducted by the ICE ERO Office in Reno with assistance from officers assigned to the agency's Las Vegas-based Fugitive Operations Team. ICE also received substantial support in the effort from the Nevada Department of Public Safety's Parole and Probation Division.
"This multi-day, ICE operation targeted criminal and fugitive aliens throughout the Reno area," said ICE Director John Morton. "These surge operations, and our daily targeting of aliens with criminal convictions, are some of the many tools that ICE uses to effectively reduce crime at the street level in communities throughout the United States."
The 12 men and four women arrested in the Reno area during the operation are from Mexico and El Salvador. Those who have outstanding orders of deportation, or who returned to the United States illegally after being deported, are subject to immediate removal from the country. The remaining aliens will be held in ICE custody awaiting a hearing before an immigration judge, or travel arrangements for removal in the near future.
This week's enforcement action was spearheaded by ICE's Fugitive Operations Program, which is responsible for locating, arresting and removing at-large criminal aliens and immigration fugitives. ICE's Fugitive Operations Teams (FOTs) 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.
The officers who conducted this week's operation received substantial assistance from ICE's Fugitive Operations Support Center (FOSC) located in Williston, Vt. The FOSC conducted exhaustive database checks on the targeted cases to help ensure the viability of the leads and accuracy of the criminal histories. The FOSC was established in 2006 to improve the integrity of the data available on at large criminal aliens and immigration fugitives nationwide. Since its inception, the FOSC has forwarded more than 550,000 case leads to ICE enforcement personnel in the field.
ICE's Fugitive Operations Program is just one facet of the Department of Homeland Security's broader strategy to heighten the federal government's effectiveness at identifying and removing dangerous criminal aliens from the United States. Other initiatives that figure prominently in this effort are the Criminal Alien Program, Secure Communities and the agency's partnerships with state and local law enforcement agencies under 287(g).
Largely as a result of these initiatives, ICE removed a record 195,772 convicted criminal aliens from the United States in fiscal year 2010.

Cher Honored with Hands and Footprints Ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theatr

Eva and Tony Happier Times

Gates Visit Underscores Strong Relationship With Chile

By John D. Banusiewicz
American Forces Press Service
SANTIAGO, Chile, Nov. 19, 2010 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived here today for a visit meant to reinforce what officials said already is a strong military relationship between the two countries.
Tomorrow, Gates will meet with Defense Minister Jaime Ravinet, and the two defense leaders later will see Chilean special forces demonstrations.
"We have, among other shared interests, a mutual desire to develop regional mechanisms to support disaster relief," Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said yesterday. "The capabilities that Chile has developed in this arena were on full display to the world this year, from its remarkable response to the earthquake and tsunami that struck in February to the extraordinary rescues of the 33 miners trapped underground for 70 days."
This is Gates' second visit to Chile as defense secretary, and his first in three years. A senior Defense Department official told reporters in a background briefing yesterday that this weekend's visit follows a series of military visits and exchanges between the two nations over the past two years.
Gates and Ravinet last met in September at the Pentagon.
The senior official said Gates' visit to Chile is "an effort to underscore the importance we place on the defense relationships with Chile."
With Chile taking on an increasingly prominent regional and global security role, interoperability is an area with potential for more cooperation and support between the U.S. and Chilean militaries, officials said, noting that the two nations already work together in a number of multinational exercises and training deployments.
Chile continues to increase its level of international engagement, the senior official said. And with a new defense reform law that calls for the branches of the Chilean military to work together more, Gates' visit provides a chance to share lessons the United States learned in a similar undertaking, he added.
"It's clear that Chile wants to be much more engaged and involved in the international arena from the defense side," the official said. "There are, and have been, 500 Chilean troops as part of [the U.N. stabilization mission] in Haiti since 2004. They've had U.N. contingents in Cyprus and Bosnia and other places."
In addition, the official said, Chile and Argentina are working together on a joint peacekeeping task that is scheduled to be ready in 2012 to deploy when needed.
Also, the Chilean military and the Texas National Guard have had a formal relationship since April 2009 through the National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program, focusing on crisis response airlift capabilities, defense support to civil authorities, diver/port of entry security, and reserve affairs legislative support.

"There are many areas of common interest and common objectives," the official continued, "and I think the secretary is very interested in solidifying, institutionalizing and strengthening that."

Biographies:
Robert M. Gates
Related Sites:
Special Report: Travels With Gates
State Department Background Note on Chile

Gates Visit Underscores Strong Relationship With Chile

By John D. Banusiewicz
American Forces Press Service
SANTIAGO, Chile, Nov. 19, 2010 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived here today for a visit meant to reinforce what officials said already is a strong military relationship between the two countries.
Tomorrow, Gates will meet with Defense Minister Jaime Ravinet, and the two defense leaders later will see Chilean special forces demonstrations.
"We have, among other shared interests, a mutual desire to develop regional mechanisms to support disaster relief," Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said yesterday. "The capabilities that Chile has developed in this arena were on full display to the world this year, from its remarkable response to the earthquake and tsunami that struck in February to the extraordinary rescues of the 33 miners trapped underground for 70 days."
This is Gates' second visit to Chile as defense secretary, and his first in three years. A senior Defense Department official told reporters in a background briefing yesterday that this weekend's visit follows a series of military visits and exchanges between the two nations over the past two years.
Gates and Ravinet last met in September at the Pentagon.
The senior official said Gates' visit to Chile is "an effort to underscore the importance we place on the defense relationships with Chile."
With Chile taking on an increasingly prominent regional and global security role, interoperability is an area with potential for more cooperation and support between the U.S. and Chilean militaries, officials said, noting that the two nations already work together in a number of multinational exercises and training deployments.
Chile continues to increase its level of international engagement, the senior official said. And with a new defense reform law that calls for the branches of the Chilean military to work together more, Gates' visit provides a chance to share lessons the United States learned in a similar undertaking, he added.
"It's clear that Chile wants to be much more engaged and involved in the international arena from the defense side," the official said. "There are, and have been, 500 Chilean troops as part of [the U.N. stabilization mission] in Haiti since 2004. They've had U.N. contingents in Cyprus and Bosnia and other places."
In addition, the official said, Chile and Argentina are working together on a joint peacekeeping task that is scheduled to be ready in 2012 to deploy when needed.
Also, the Chilean military and the Texas National Guard have had a formal relationship since April 2009 through the National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program, focusing on crisis response airlift capabilities, defense support to civil authorities, diver/port of entry security, and reserve affairs legislative support.

"There are many areas of common interest and common objectives," the official continued, "and I think the secretary is very interested in solidifying, institutionalizing and strengthening that."

Biographies:
Robert M. Gates
Related Sites:
Special Report: Travels With Gates
State Department Background Note on Chile

Model - Acid Attack Victim Recovers (Graphic Content)

Jacksonville man sentenced to 15 years for attempted online enticement of a minor, production of child pornography

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - David Marshall Deal, 25 of Jacksonville, was sentenced Thursday to 15 years in federal prison and 10 years of supervised release for using the Internet to attempt to entice a minor child to engage in illegal sexual activity and attempting to produce images of child pornography.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and the Child Predator Cyber Crime Unit of the State of Florida Attorney General's Office.
"This sentencing should serve as a warning about the serious consequences of attempting to sexually exploit children," said Susan McCormick, special agent in charge of ICE HSI in Tampa, Fla. "Through our partnerships with state, local and other federal law enforcement agencies, ICE will continue to police cyber space to investigate predators and ensure that they feel the full weight of the law."
Deal was also ordered to register as a sex offender. He had been found guilty of these charges after a jury trial in U.S. District Court on May 6. Deal has been in custody since his arrest on Sept. 11, 2008.
According to court testimony and evidence introduced during trial, from August 28, 2008 through September 11, 2008, Deal engaged in several online conversations over the Internet with a person whom he believed to be a 13-year-old child.
Unbeknownst to Deal, this "child" was actually a detective with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
During the course of the online conversations, Deal attempted to entice and persuade the "child" to engage in sex with him, and he also stated that he wished to take pornographic pictures of the "child."
On Sept. 11, 2008, Deal arranged to meet the "child" at a restaurant in Jacksonville for the purpose of engaging in sex. As Deal approached the area in his vehicle, he was arrested by investigators with the Child Predator CyberCrime Unit of the State of Florida Attorney General's Office and Jacksonville Sheriff's officers.
A search of Deal's vehicle revealed that he had brought five condoms, two pairs of thong underwear, and a digital camera in a backpack for use during the planned sexual encounter.
It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney D.Rodney Brown.
This case was part of Operation Predator, a nationwide ICE initiative to identify, investigate, and arrest those who prey on children, including human traffickers, international sex tourists, Internet pornographers, and foreign-national predators whose crimes make them deportable.
ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-347-2423. This hotline is staffed around the clock by investigators. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum's Child Predator CyberCrime Unit is a member of the FBI Cyber Taskforce in Jacksonville and the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, a federally funded program working nationwide to educate and support law enforcement to stop these crimes. More information on the Florida Attorney General's CyberCrime initiative is available at http://www.myfloridalegal.com.

Jacksonville man sentenced to 15 years for attempted online enticement of a minor, production of child pornography

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - David Marshall Deal, 25 of Jacksonville, was sentenced Thursday to 15 years in federal prison and 10 years of supervised release for using the Internet to attempt to entice a minor child to engage in illegal sexual activity and attempting to produce images of child pornography.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and the Child Predator Cyber Crime Unit of the State of Florida Attorney General's Office.
"This sentencing should serve as a warning about the serious consequences of attempting to sexually exploit children," said Susan McCormick, special agent in charge of ICE HSI in Tampa, Fla. "Through our partnerships with state, local and other federal law enforcement agencies, ICE will continue to police cyber space to investigate predators and ensure that they feel the full weight of the law."
Deal was also ordered to register as a sex offender. He had been found guilty of these charges after a jury trial in U.S. District Court on May 6. Deal has been in custody since his arrest on Sept. 11, 2008.
According to court testimony and evidence introduced during trial, from August 28, 2008 through September 11, 2008, Deal engaged in several online conversations over the Internet with a person whom he believed to be a 13-year-old child.
Unbeknownst to Deal, this "child" was actually a detective with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
During the course of the online conversations, Deal attempted to entice and persuade the "child" to engage in sex with him, and he also stated that he wished to take pornographic pictures of the "child."
On Sept. 11, 2008, Deal arranged to meet the "child" at a restaurant in Jacksonville for the purpose of engaging in sex. As Deal approached the area in his vehicle, he was arrested by investigators with the Child Predator CyberCrime Unit of the State of Florida Attorney General's Office and Jacksonville Sheriff's officers.
A search of Deal's vehicle revealed that he had brought five condoms, two pairs of thong underwear, and a digital camera in a backpack for use during the planned sexual encounter.
It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney D.Rodney Brown.
This case was part of Operation Predator, a nationwide ICE initiative to identify, investigate, and arrest those who prey on children, including human traffickers, international sex tourists, Internet pornographers, and foreign-national predators whose crimes make them deportable.
ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-347-2423. This hotline is staffed around the clock by investigators. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum's Child Predator CyberCrime Unit is a member of the FBI Cyber Taskforce in Jacksonville and the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, a federally funded program working nationwide to educate and support law enforcement to stop these crimes. More information on the Florida Attorney General's CyberCrime initiative is available at http://www.myfloridalegal.com.

Target the Dog

NYDSDOT Announces Completion of US Route 219 Extension Project PRESS RELEASE

Release Date: November 19, 2010

NYDSDOT Announces Completion of US Route 219 Extension Project

Southern Expressway Extension Opening Friday, Novbember 19

New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Acting Commissioner Stanley Gee today announced the opening of the 4.2-mile extension of U.S. Route 219, Southern Expressway, in the village of Springville, Erie County, and the town of Ashford, Cattaraugus County.

“Extending the Southern Expressway allows greater mobility for area residents and long distance travelers and truckers by providing a safe, efficient way to travel between Erie and Cattaraugus counties,” Acting Commissioner Gee said.  “In addition, this new stretch of highway features a stunning backdrop with panoramic views of the mountains and valleys that make up the Enchanted Mountains.”

The U.S. Route 219 project, which began in 2007, extended the Southern Expressway from State Route 39 in the village of Springville to a new interchange at Peters Road in the town of Ashford.  The project involved the construction of 4.2 miles of four-lane divided highway and nine new bridges, including two, twin steel arch bridges that each span more than 700 feet across the Cattaraugus Creek gorge.  A new 41-acre wetland and wildlife observation area was constructed in Hinman Valley, town of Ellicottville, as well as a 2,000-foot stream habitat enhancement project on McKinstry Creek, in the town of Yorkshire.  The prime contractor on the project was Cold Spring Construction Company of the village of Akron, Erie County. 

Senator Catharine Young said, “Completing this phase of Route 219 is a design feat of huge proportions that has taken decades of dedication and hard work, led by local people who have had an unrelenting vision and a dream.  We need a major north-south route to connect our

-more-

region with new markets.  When it’s finally finished, Route 219 will bring countless jobs and opportunities to revitalize Western New York.  As importantly, making Route 219 a safer roadway will save heartache and lives.  Hundreds of people have been seriously injured or killed on Route 219 over the years, and upgrading the highway will avert carnage on the road.  We need to celebrate our current success and rededicate ourselves to a positive economic future by achieving the ultimate goal of having the entire route constructed.”

Assemblyman Joseph M. Giglio said, “I’m pleased that the current phase of the Route 219 project has been completed.  This is one of the most important projects for economic development, commerce, travel and tourism in recent history.  I congratulate all of those that have worked toward the completion of Route 219, and I’m hopeful that the next phases begin as soon as possible.” 

Meg Lauerman, Continental 1 Project Manager said, “Continental 1 is delighted that NYSDOT has decided to publicly celebrate this momentous community achievement.  Our region can be proud of the work accomplished – the design and construction of a magnificent twin span, award-winning wetland mitigation, as well as the long hours and tireless efforts of our local workforce, including Seneca Nation and other high-iron construction workers.”

“This Southern Expressway project has extended this important north-south corridor which will improve mobility and enhance the economic vitality of the region,” said NYSDOT Acting Regional Director Darrell Kaminski.  “Equally important, the project will also mitigate safety concerns for the traveling public along the existing two-lane highway section of U.S. Route 219.”

The U.S. Route 219 extension provides a unique, scenic gateway to Cattaraugus County offering beautiful views of the Cattaraugus Creek gorge and surrounding valleys.  Locally, the area is known as the “Enchanted Mountains,” and travelers on U.S. Route 219 enjoy a landscape of woodland hills and stream glens.  These scenic qualities helped earn U.S. Route 219 the designation of a New York State Scenic Byway in 2007. 

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Rt 219 Extension moved back to 3PM :5 minutes from now.

(Springville, NY) The new 4 mile extension of the Route 219 highway will be opened at 3pm. this afternon.
The new extension features a steel beam bridge and a new exit that bi-passes much of the commercial strip in Springville, NY.

Many of the locals that Motion Center Spoke to seem excited about the new extension. Some of the customers at Crosby's Corner Store in Boston, just north of Springville had feelings that "it would be good for the area." another stated that it is "difficult to drive in the area because there are so many people pulling in and .'of the store driveways. [on the Springville portion of Route 219].

The original opening of the section was scheduled for 1pm but was moved back to 3pm. Motion Center Staffers were prepared to be the third motorist in line for the new opening, but when the news cme down, thought it a better to submit the news with the information already available.

Some people were very excited at the news of the opening, Such as Jerry, a local resident that has been chronicaling the project since 1997. Another excited local and his big yellow golden shepard dog were really to go for a ride.

Another motorist got himself into a little trouble when the minivan and trailer he was driving failed to navigate a turn into a parking area near the new bridge. The trailer and truck jack knifed State Police were on scene to assist with traffic.

John Tyner Youtube Video - What's your Opinion?

Commentary

Is John Tyner aiding and supporting terrorists by filming security procedures at an airport and giving TSA Agents a difficult time? Or is he just a jackass? Why be do dramatic? Is it legal to video record a security checkpoint?

TSA BLOG - Clearing Up Myths

(Buffalo, NY) As the holiday travel season approaches and new security procedures are in force. The TSA is promoting their ASK TSA and TSA blog. This blog used the power of the internet to dispel some myths and educate the traveling public.

Some of the issues that are covered include myths of :leaked scanner photos, issues in reference to religious garb and the pat down procedure. For more information and or to submit comments click here . ( http://blog.tsa.gov/ ) . The TSA Blog will now be feeding on Motion Center.

Not an endorsement. Motion Center is your source for Traffic Weather and government news in WNY