Outreach program educates teens about the dangers of drug smuggling

In 2008, within 24 hours, five teenagers were apprehended at the San Ysidro Port in San Diego, Calif., and the Calexico Port in Imperial Valley, Calif. Each of them had narcotics strapped to their torsos and legs. Drug smuggling organizations had enlisted the teens' assistance in smuggling narcotics into the United States.

This, unfortunately, was not an isolated incident. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents learned that recruiters for drug smuggling organizations were frequenting school grounds, luring students with cash payments. To seal the deal, recruiters told the students that nothing could happen to them.
They would say, "Worst case scenario, they'll take the drugs from you and you'll be turned over to your parents," said Millie Jones, San Diego's assistant special agent in charge. "These kids are not aware of the consequences."
Representatives from ICE HSI and their counterparts at the San Diego Police Department launched an outreach campaign to tackle this growing situation. To date, ICE has made presentations at 24 locations, including community centers, high schools, middle schools and charter schools. Five additional presentations are scheduled this spring.
The presentations focus on the facts. Minors can receive felony convictions. A conviction like that can follow a teenager for the rest of his/her life. The presentation also includes a video featuring two convicted drug smugglers sharing their personal experiences. Smuggling does not equate to "quick and easy" money.
Agents warn that teens between the ages of 13 and 18 are the typical recruits and are primarily asked to smuggle marijuana or methamphetamine into the country. In some instances, however, teenagers have been caught with heroin or cocaine taped to their bodies.
Agents say the program is working. Teen smuggling arrests have significantly declined in the first quarter of 2011. But agents note that their work isn't complete. It's an ongoing process.
"If we can convince at least one kid not to smuggle drugs, that's one kid we won't have to encounter at the ports of entry," said Jones.

Savannah area McDonald's employees indicted for conspiring to sell stolen identities

 

SAVANNAH, Ga. - A federal indictment, unsealed today in federal court, charged Oscar Lazo, 51, a citizen of Peru; Eva Ramos, 35, a citizen of the United States; Mauricio Cruz, a citizen of Mexico; Manuel Cruz, a citizen of Mexico; and an unnamed defendant with conspiring to sell the stolen identities of U.S. citizens.

The charges follow an extensive undercover investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) special agents in Savannah.

The indictment alleges that beginning in July of 2010, Lazo and Ramos, both managers of a local McDonald's restaurant owned by NTG Enterprises, sold stolen identities to other prospective McDonald's employees, including Mauricio Cruz and Manuel Cruz, who used the stolen identities to obtain employment with the restaurant.

\Lazo and Ramos were also charged with harboring illegal aliens.
All five were arrested on criminal charges today by ICE HSI special agents in Savannah. Nine others were arrested administratively for being in violation of U.S. immigration law.

"ICE HSI aggressively targets the criminal networks that use stolen identities and document fraud to skirt U.S. immigration laws and conspire to hire an illegal alien workforce," said Brock Nicholson, special agent in charge of ICE HSI in Atlanta. "This type of illegal activity compromises the integrity of our nation's immigration system, putting the security of our communities, and our country, at risk."

U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Georgia, Edward J. Tarver said, "Our office will work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to protect unknowing United States citizens against identity theft which is a rapidly growing problem across our country. Victims of identity fraud suffer a great deal and the effects of such fraud can be long-lasting if not indefinite."

If convicted on all counts, Lazo and Ramos face a maximum statutory penalty of over 100 years in prison. If convicted on all the counts of which they are charged, Mauricio Cruz and Manuel Cruz face a maximum statutory penalty of 37 years in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Natalie Lee is prosecuting the case for the United States.

Mayor Rob Ford and Councillor Josh Colle will participate during the 20-Minute Makeover

Mayor Rob Ford and Councillor Josh Colle will participate during the 20-Minute Makeover

Mayor Rob Ford will be joined by Councillor Josh Colle (Ward 15 Eglinton Lawrence), representatives from GLAD Canada - lead sponsor for the 20-Minute Makeover, members of the community, youth groups and members of the Toronto Police Service to pick up litter and paint a mural on Friday.

Date: Friday, April 15   
Time: 2 p.m. (for 20 minutes)   
Location: Fairbanks Memorial Community Centre, 2213 Dufferin St. (just south of Eglinton Avenue West)

Note to media:  Mayor Ford will be available for questions after the photo op.

Thousands of Toronto residents, businesses, students and government employees will pitch in at various locations to pick up litter and demonstrate their pride in Toronto. This is all part of the CLEAN TORONTO TOGETHER initiative.

The City, along with its sponsors - GLAD Canada, CP24, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, The Home Depot, the Toronto Star, Pizza Pizza, The Toronto Sun, Tim Hortons and McDonald’s - organizes this annual event.

Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. Toronto's government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence, creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost of government and building a transportation city. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week