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Homeland Security Investigations

Undercover Prostitution Sting At Passaic County Spas Nets 4 Arrests, Nearly $9.5K Seized Undercover Prostitution Sting At Passaic County Spas Nets 4 Arrests, Nearly $9.5K Seized
Undercover Prostitution Sting At Passaic County Spas Nets 4 Arrests, Nearly $9.5K Seized Authorities dismantled a prostitution operation at two Passaic County spas, arresting four people and seizing nearly $9,500 in suspected proceeds, officials announced Wednesday, Dec. 5. The operation conducted on Tuesday, Dec. 3, began after concerned residents tipped off authorities about suspicious activities at the New Paterson Massage & Coco Healthy Spa on McBride Avenue in Paterson and the Eastern Cozy Spa on Overmount Avenue in Woodland Park, Sheriff Thomas Adamo said. Undercover detectives conducting surveillance at the locations reported being offered sexual acts, Adamo sai…
PA Man Arrested For Dealing Cocaine After $66K Seized: DA PA Man Arrested For Dealing Cocaine After $66K Seized: DA
PA Man Arrested For Dealing Cocaine After $66K Seized: DA A Lancaster man accused of dealing cocaine was arrested after authorities seized more than $66,000 in cash and cocaine from his home, the Lancaster County Drug Task Force announced Monday, Dec. 2 Alex Yamil Ramos-Flores, 28, is charged with Felony Possession with Intent to Deliver Cocaine and Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, officials said. Detectives, with help from Homeland Security Investigations and Pennsylvania State Police, raided Ramos-Flores’ home in the 400 block of Fairview Avenue on Nov. 6. They uncovered 14 grams of powder cocaine worth $1,400, two loaded pistol mag…
Lancaster Raid Busts Man With $19K In Cocaine, Meth, Mushrooms, Guns: DA Lancaster Raid Busts Man With $19K In Cocaine, Meth, Mushrooms, Guns: DA
Lancaster Raid Busts Man With $19K In Cocaine, Meth, Mushrooms, Guns: DA A Lancaster man is accused of dealing more than $19,000 in illegal drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamine, and psilocybin mushrooms, authorities announced. Josiah McClarence-Giddons, 30, was charged with multiple felonies, including possession with intent to deliver cocaine, methamphetamine, and psilocybin mushrooms, after a search warrant was executed at his home in the 600 block of East Madison Street on Tuesday, Nov. 14, according to the Lancaster County Drug Task Force. Agents with the Drug Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, and Pennsylvania State Police said they seized…
Accused Cocaine Dealer Arrested During Lancaster Raid: DA Accused Cocaine Dealer Arrested During Lancaster Raid: DA
Accused Cocaine Dealer Arrested During Lancaster Raid: DA An accused cocaine dealer has been arrested in Lancaster City, the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office announced. Victor Casado, 51, was charged with Felony Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine, Felony Possession With Intent to Distribute Marijuana, and Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia after a search warrant was executed at his home, authorities said on Monday, Nov. 25. Drug Task Force agents, Homeland Security Investigations, and Pennsylvania State Police conducted the search on Oct. 8 at Casado’s residence in the 200 block of East Ross Street. During the raid, …
Rockland County Jail Sergeant Facing 51 Child Exploitation Charges Following Cyber Tip: DA Rockland County Jail Sergeant Facing 51 Child Exploitation Charges Following Cyber Tip: DA
Rockland County Jail Sergeant Facing 51 Child Exploitation Charges Following Cyber Tip: DA A 44-year-old sergeant at the Rockland County Jail is facing over 50 charges of possessing and promoting alleged child sexual abuse material, authorities announced. Daniel Dworkin, a corrections officer sergeant, was arrested Thursday, Nov. 21, following an investigation sparked by a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, according to Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II. Dworkin is charged with 51 counts each of promoting and possessing a sexual performance by a child. A search of his home and digital devices reportedly uncovered disturbing…
Homeland Security Investigation Leads To $294K Cocaine Bust In PA Homeland Security Investigation Leads To $294K Cocaine Bust In PA
Homeland Security Investigation Leads To $294K Cocaine Bust In PA A joint investigation with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) led to the arrest of a Columbia man and the seizure of more than $294,000 worth of cocaine and marijuana, the Lancaster County Drug Task Force announced on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. Roderick Gonzalez-Perez, of the 800 block of Blunston Street, was arrested on Oct. 4 after authorities intercepted a package containing over five kilograms of cocaine en route to his home from Puerto Rico. The package, addressed to “Senior Perez,” was flagged during transit, prompting a collaborative investigation by the Drug Task Force and HSI. Af…
Drug Bust In MD Leads To Seizure Of Stash Capable Of Causing 'Hundreds Of Lethal Doses:' Police Drug Bust In MD Leads To Seizure Of Stash Capable Of Causing 'Hundreds Of Lethal Doses:' Police
Drug Bust In MD Leads To Seizure Of Stash Capable Of Causing 'Hundreds Of Lethal Doses:' Police A multi-agency investigation in Northern Maryland led to the recovery of tens of thousands of dollars worth of dangerous drugs that could have killed hundreds and landed three behind bars, authorities announced on Tuesday. The Frederick High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) group executed search and seizure warrants in the 1000 block of Monroe Avenue in Frederick and on a vehicle in Hagerstown on Monday night, leading to a massive bust and multiple arrests. Those charged:  Jayden Isaiah Stephon, 20, of Hagerstown; Christion Sayyid Gill, 26, of Hagerstown; Jamil Nicholas Gardne…
Thompson Drug Trafficker Busted With 3 Kilos Of Cocaine, $136K In Cash, Police Say Thompson Drug Trafficker Busted With 3 Kilos Of Cocaine, $136K In Cash, Police Say
Thompson Drug Trafficker Busted With 3 Kilos Of Cocaine, $136K In Cash, Police Say A drug dealer/trafficker from the region was allegedly busted with three kilos of cocaine and other drugs along with cash following a two-month investigation. Sullivan County resident Raheen Meredith, age 50, of Thompson, was charged on Friday, Oct. 25. According to Sullivan County Sheriff's Office Undersheriff Eric Chaboty, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office Gang and Narcotics Intelligence Unit executed a search warrant in conjunction with “Operation Hard Rock,” a two-month-long investigation into wholesale cocaine distribution in Sullivan County.  Meredith was captured during a tr…
Brick Township Man Caught Sending, Receiving Child Porn: Prosecutors Brick Township Man Caught Sending, Receiving Child Porn: Prosecutors
Brick Township Man Caught Sending, Receiving Child Porn: Prosecutors A Brick Township man was accused of downloading and sharing child pornography, authorities said. Dennis Hubert, 42, was charged with possession of child pornography, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release on Thursday, Oct. 24. The investigation started when the state police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Investigators with the county prosecutor's office discovered an IP address associated with a Brick Township home was accessing child porn pictur…
Plainview Child Therapist Shared Videos Of Infants Being Bound, Raped, Feds Say Plainview Child Therapist Shared Videos Of Infants Being Bound, Raped, Feds Say
Plainview Child Therapist Shared Videos Of Infants Being Bound, Raped, Feds Say A licensed child therapist from Long Island is accused of sharing videos of child sex abuse, with some victims as young as toddlers. Renee Hoberman, age 36, of Plainview, was arraigned on charges of distributing child pornography in Central Islip federal court on Wednesday, Oct. 23. Prosecutors said Hoberman used social media messaging apps to upload videos depicting one or more minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct between June and October 2024. Several videos depicted infants aged six months to one year being physically restrained and raped by an adult male, as the infants cried…
Former Penns Grove Man Admits To Check Stealing, Mail Carrier Robbery Scheme: Feds Former Penns Grove Man Admits To Check Stealing, Mail Carrier Robbery Scheme: Feds
Former Penns Grove Man Admits To Check Stealing, Mail Carrier Robbery Scheme: Feds A former Penns Grove man admitted to his role in a scheme to steal checks and rob mail carriers, authorities said. Dezhon McCrae, 25, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, possession of a stolen postal key, possession of stolen mail, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, New Jersey's U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a news release. According to court documents and statements, McCrae was part of a “card cracking” conspiracy between May 2018 and February 2020. Suspects stole checks from the mail and other so…
Brick Twp. Man Admits To Recording Children's Sex Acts During Video Chats, Prosecutors Say Brick Twp. Man Admits To Recording Children's Sex Acts During Video Chats, Prosecutors Say
Brick Twp. Man Admits To Recording Children's Sex Acts During Video Chats, Prosecutors Say A Brick Township man admitted to recording children performing sexual acts for him in video chats, authorities said. Christopher Budelman, 37, pleaded guilty on Friday, Oct. 4 to two counts of sexual assault, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release on Tuesday, Oct. 8. Prosecutors said they're seeking seven years in state prison for Budelman, along with registering as a sex offender, a ban from contacting the victims, and lifetime parole supervision. The state police's Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force found a person was using the …
Latham Ex-School Counselor To Spend 15 Years In Prison For Child Sex Crimes Latham Ex-School Counselor To Spend 15 Years In Prison For Child Sex Crimes
Latham Ex-School Counselor To Spend 15 Years In Prison For Child Sex Crimes A Capital Region ex-school counselor will spend 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to the sexual exploitation of a child. Related: Ex-School Counselor In Capital Region Filmed Sexually Explicit Content Of Child For Years Albany County resident Kristy Lynne Koldis, age 46, of Latham, was sentenced on Thursday, Oct. 3, said US Attorney for the Northern District Of New York Carla Freedman. In previously pleading guilty, Koldis admitted that she created sexually explicit content depicting the lewd and lascivious exhibition of the victim's genitals from the time the child was nine …
Ex-Newark Child Services Case Worker Sexually Assaulted Two Children, AG Says Ex-Newark Child Services Case Worker Sexually Assaulted Two Children, AG Says
Ex-Newark Child Services Case Worker Sexually Assaulted Two Children, AG Says A 58-year-old former New Jersey Department of Children and Family Services Division of Child Protection and Permanency case worker has been indicted for sexually abusing two children, authorities said. Trent L. Collier, formerly of Newark and currently of Savannah, GA, has been charged in a seven-count indictment with sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact, attempted aggravated sexual assault, and official misconduct, based on Collier’s alleged sexually abusive conduct toward the two minor victims, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said. Earlier this year, Collier ad…
Nyack Man Nabbed In Undercover Online Predator Sting, Rockland DA Says Nyack Man Nabbed In Undercover Online Predator Sting, Rockland DA Says
Nyack Man Nabbed In Undercover Online Predator Sting, Rockland DA Says A man is facing multiple charges after an online predator sting in the region. From Tuesday, April 30, through Sunday, Sept. 1 of this year, Robert Fidler age 66, of Nyack engaged in internet chats and attempted to arrange meetings with what he thought were two teenage girls, the Rockland County District Attorney's Office said. An undercover officer of the DA Office's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force had assumed the personas of 13- and 14-year-old girls. During the conversations, Fidler described how he and the undercover officer would engage in sexual contact whe…
Babies Among Victims Depicted In Child Porn Downloaded By Burlington Repeat Offender: Feds Babies Among Victims Depicted In Child Porn Downloaded By Burlington Repeat Offender: Feds
Babies Among Victims Depicted In Child Porn Downloaded By Burlington Repeat Offender: Feds A Burlington man previously convicted of downloading child pornography admitted to committing the same crime, authorities said. Charles Borrelli, 62, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Sept. 25 to receipt of child pornography, New Jersey's U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a news release. According to court documents and statements, Borrelli downloaded pictures of child sexual abuse on Monday, Jan. 3, 2022. He also used a peer-to-peer file-sharing network to distribute photos and videos on the same day. Investigators said Borrelli had more than 600 images and videos…
Man Admits To Attempting To Hire Girl, 12, As Prostitute At Mount Laurel Hotel: Feds Man Admits To Attempting To Hire Girl, 12, As Prostitute At Mount Laurel Hotel: Feds
Man Admits To Attempting To Hire Girl, 12, As Prostitute At Mount Laurel Hotel: Feds A Philadelphia man admitted to trying to hire a preteen girl as a prostitute and meet her at a New Jersey hotel, authorities said. Louis Goldenberg, 41, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Sept. 18, New Jersey's U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a news release. He was charged in September 2023 with attempted online enticement of a minor to engage in prostitution. According to court documents and statements, Goldenberg started messaging an undercover agent posing as a middle-aged woman with a 12-year-old niece in August 2023. For the next month, Goldenberg continually expre…
UPMC Professor Of Pediatric Radiology Indicted For Child Porn: USDOJ UPMC Professor Of Pediatric Radiology Indicted For Child Porn: USDOJ
Upmc Professor Of Pediatric Radiology Indicted For Child Porn: Usdoj A University of Pittsburgh Doctor and Professor Of Pediatric Radiology has been indicted on child pornography charges, according to a release by the US Department Of Justice on Wednesday, Sept. 4.  Dr. Ashok Panigrahy, 53, of Pittsburgh, was caught transporting "material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor in interstate commerce, as well as possessed material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor," in Nov. 2022, as stated in the USDOJ release.  The material included images of the raping of children under the of 12 and/or prepubescent, according to federal court documents obt…
Bank Manager From Pine Bush Sentenced For Hiring A Hitman To Murder Brother-In-Law Bank Manager From Pine Bush Sentenced For Hiring A Hitman To Murder Brother-In-Law
Bank Manager From Pine Bush Sentenced For Hiring A Hitman To Murder Brother-In-Law A Hudson Valley bank manager is headed for federal prison after pleading guilty to plotting to hire a hitman to murder her own brother-in-law. Orange County resident Reshma Massarone, age 40, of Pine Bush, a hamlet of Crawford, was sentenced to 9.5 years in prison and three years of post-release supervision on Wednesday, Aug. 28, said Damian Williams, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York.  “The defendant devised a chilling plan to have a member of her own family murdered for the low price of ten thousand dollars," said Williams. "Her plan was unthinkably heartless. For th…
Victims Speak Out At Sentencing Of Bristol Man Who Filmed Sex Assaults Sleeping Victims 2 To 12 Victims Speak Out At Sentencing Of Bristol Man Who Filmed Sex Assaults Sleeping Victims 2 To 12
Victims Speak Out At Sentencing Of Bristol Man Who Filmed Sex Assaults Sleeping Victims 2 To 12 A Bucks County man who pleaded guilty to recording the sexual assaults of three children and sharing the footage on social media has learned his fate. Brian Nathaniel Harris, 29, of Bristol, was sentenced to 18 to 42 years in the state correctional institution by Common Pleas Judge Gary B. Gilman, the Bucks County District Attorney's Office announced Friday, Aug. 23. He was also sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to undergo sex offender treatment and a mental health evaluation.  Relatives of the victims packed a courtroom at the Criminal Justice Center on Friday wit…
Somers Point Man Admits To Having Unregistered Machine Guns, Modified Weapons: Feds Somers Point Man Admits To Having Unregistered Machine Guns, Modified Weapons: Feds
Somers Point Man Admits To Having Unregistered Machine Guns, Modified Weapons: Feds A Somers Point man admitted to having unregistered machine guns and modified firearms, authorities said. Michael James, 30, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, Aug. 20 to possessing unregistered machine guns and other firearms, New Jersey's U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a news release. James had been given a federal charge on Wednesday, May 15. According to court documents and statements, Customs and Border Protection agents intercepted two packages with suspected drugs addressed to James' home in February. Investigators "conducted a controlled delivery of the packages" on&nb…
Clermont Man Downloaded, Shared Child Porn On Several Devices: Prosecutors Clermont Man Downloaded, Shared Child Porn On Several Devices: Prosecutors
Clermont Man Downloaded, Shared Child Porn On Several Devices: Prosecutors A Dennis Township man was accused of having child pornography on several laptops and cellphones, authorities said. Steven Seeburg, 63, of Clermont, was arrested on Tuesday, Aug. 20, Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland said in a news release. Seeburg was charged with second-degree distribution of child pornography and third-degree possession of child pornography. The investigation started after a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Investigators said Seeburg was later identified as the suspect who was downloading and sharing pictures of c…
Waldorf Man Targeting Teen Girl Online Arrested For Sexual Solicitation Of Minor: State Police Waldorf Man Targeting Teen Girl Online Arrested For Sexual Solicitation Of Minor: State Police
Waldorf Man Targeting Teen Girl Online Arrested For Sexual Solicitation Of Minor: State Police A Waldorf man who allegedly preyed on minors online for months was busted by an undercover state police investigator and is behind bars in Anne Arundel County. Rafee Al-Mansur, 33, is facing charges after targeting a purported 13-year-old girl in an online chat over the course of several weeks, according to Maryland State Police investigators. In April, members of the Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force launched a probe into the sexual solicitation of a minor over the Internet.  The investigation led to Al-Mansur being identified as a suspect, who believed he was…
South Jersey Man Uploaded Child Porn Videos To Internet, Prosecutors Say South Jersey Man Uploaded Child Porn Videos To Internet, Prosecutors Say
South Jersey Man Uploaded Child Porn Videos To Internet, Prosecutors Say A Willingboro man was accused of uploading child pornography videos to the internet, authorities said. Aaron Minor, 24, was charged with second-degree distribution of child sexual abuse material, second-degree possession of child sexual abuse material with the intent to distribute, and third-degree possession of child sexual abuse material. Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia Bradshaw announced Minor's charges in a news release on Monday, Aug. 12. The investigation began when state police received a tip about Minor from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Chi…
Probe Into Sexually Extorted Suicidal Teen Leads To Child Porn Bust In Maryland: State Police Probe Into Sexually Extorted Suicidal Teen Leads To Child Porn Bust In Maryland: State Police
Probe Into Sexually Extorted Suicidal Teen Leads To Child Porn Bust In Maryland: State Police A months-long investigation into the distribution of child porn in Maryland landed a 34-year-old Anne Arundel County man behind bars, state police say. Chestnut Hill Cove resident Kenneth Schneider is facing multiple charges after being arrested over the weekend by members of the Maryland State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force probing reported child porn incidents in the region. In June special agents from the Homeland Security Investigations initiated a probe into child pornography after receiving a report that a minor had attempted suicide after allegedly being…
Central Jersey Man Sextorted Boy He Met In Online Gaming Chatroom: Prosecutors Central Jersey Man Sextorted Boy He Met In Online Gaming Chatroom: Prosecutors
Central Jersey Man Sextorted Boy He Met In Online Gaming Chatroom: Prosecutors A Somerset man was accused of trying to get a boy to send him nude pictures and videos in a sextortion scheme, authorities said. Sebastian Romero, 27, was arrested on Friday, Aug. 2, Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia Bradshaw said in a news release. The investigation started after the boy's family contacted the Cinnaminson Township Police Department in July. Investigators said Romero met the boy online through an online gaming platform's chatroom and knew the boy was underage. He got personal information about the boy before offering to pay him with electronic gif…
Speakers Filled With Millions In Meth, Cocaine From Cali Found In Bucks Co.: DA Speakers Filled With Millions In Meth, Cocaine From Cali Found In Bucks Co.: DA
Speakers Filled With Millions In Meth, Cocaine From Cali Found In Bucks Co.: DA Six men were charged with trafficking millions of dollars in methamphetamine and cocaine by concealing them inside Bluetooth karaoke speakers and shipping them from California to Bucks County, authorities said. This multifaceted investigation by the Bucks County Detectives Drug Strike Force, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Attorney General’s Office resulted in the dismantling of the Byrne Drug Trafficking Organization, led by Matthew James Byrne, 43, of Broomall in Delaware County, Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn announced on Wednesday, Aug. 7. The Charged Suspects …
Bethlehem Man Paid $24K+ To Filipino Child Sex Traffickers: USDOJ Bethlehem Man Paid $24K+ To Filipino Child Sex Traffickers: USDOJ
Bethlehem Man Paid $24K+ To Filipino Child Sex Traffickers: Usdoj A 49-year-old Pennsylvania man has been sentenced for paying and directing "livestreamed sexual abuse of Filipino children," the US Department of Justice announced on Friday night, Aug. 2.  Harold "Harry" C. Daleus (also known as Dalaeus), Jr., 49, of Bethlehem, was sentenced to 20 years in prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release for the production of child pornography and related offenses, United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero detailed in the release.  Daleus sent over $24,000 to the Philippines over several years, "in order to view the live transmiss…
Bucks Man Downloaded 'Over 200' Files Of Child Pornography, Police Say Bucks Man Downloaded 'Over 200' Files Of Child Pornography, Police Say
Bucks Man Downloaded 'Over 200' Files Of Child Pornography, Police Say A 32-year-old Quakertown man faces child pornography charges, according to Warrington police.  Andrew Gregory Lewis came under investigation last November when police found that over 200 illegal files were downloaded to his computer, according to authorities. A search warrant was executed at his Quakertown home and an analysis of his devices revealed additional files, police said.  Lewis surrendered to authorities on July 3 and his bail was set at $250,000, Warrington police said. He had a preliminary hearing on Monday, July 15, court records show.  homeland Security Investi…
$400K, 415 Pounds Of Pot Seized In Hudson Valley Zava Smoke Shops Investigation $400K, 415 Pounds Of Pot Seized In Hudson Valley Zava Smoke Shops Investigation
$400K, 415 Pounds Of Pot Seized In Hudson Valley Zava Smoke Shops Investigation Five corporations and three people have pleaded guilty following an investigation into multiple smoke shops in the Hudson Valley that netted more than $400,000 and 405 pounds of pot. Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Walsh II announced Wednesday, July 10, that three individuals and five corporations that were involved in a year-long investigation into Rockland County smoke shops, said  have pleaded guilty, The investigation began on Monday, March 4, when the DA's Office, the New York Office of Homeland Security Investigations, New York State agencies, and local police …
Mount Vernon's Sean 'Diddy' Combs Subject Of Federal Criminal Investigation: Report Mount Vernon's Sean 'Diddy' Combs Subject Of Federal Criminal Investigation: Report
Mount Vernon's Sean 'Diddy' Combs Subject Of Federal Criminal Investigation: Report A federal criminal investigation is focusing on well-known hip-hop artist and longtime New Yorker Sean "Diddy" Combs, according to a report by NBC.  Combs, a 54-year-old New York City native who grew up in Westchester County in Mount Vernon, was told that he is a focus of an ongoing criminal investigation being conducted by federal authorities in the Southern District of New York, NBC reported.  The outlet added that as part of the probe, a federal grand jury is hearing evidence. There is nothing to suggest that charges are coming, though.  Combs has not received a lett…