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http://www.ice.gov/graphics/news/newsreleases/articles/infra052005.htm
News Release
May 20, 2005
ICE ARRESTS 60 ILLEGAL ALIENS WORKING AT PETROCHEMICAL REFINERIES, POWER PLANTS, & OTHER CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES IN 6 STATES
-- ICE Investigation Began with 6 Arrests at Florida Nuclear Plant in March --
WASHINGTON, DC— Michael J. Garcia, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), today announced that ICE agents have arrested 60 undocumented aliens who performed contract work at 12 critical infrastructure sites, including seven petrochemical refineries, three power plants, a national air cargo facility, and a pipeline facility located in six different states.
The arrests, which represent the latest action in ICE’s ongoing efforts to protect critical infrastructure facilities nationwide, took place today and yesterday in California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. There is no evidence that any have terrorist ties or were engaged in a terrorist plot.
All the individuals were employed by Brock Enterprises, a company in Beaumont, Texas, that provides contract workers to facilities nationwide associated with the petrochemical industry, the nuclear industry, and other energy sectors. Brock Enterprises is cooperating fully with ICE and is not a target of the ongoing investigation. It is believed that many of these illegal workers presented fraudulent documents to Brock Enterprises in order to gain employment.
While ICE agents arrested all the individuals on administrative immigration violations, some could face potential federal criminal charges, if applicable, for violations that include re-entering the United States after deportation and use of fraudulent documents to gain employment. All of those arrested are from Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras.
“The aliens arrested in this operation had access to sensitive critical infrastructure locations and therefore pose a serious homeland security threat. Not only are their identities in question, but given their illegal status, these individuals are vulnerable to potential exploitation by terrorist and other criminal organizations,” said Assistant Secretary Garcia. “These arrests demonstrate how ICE is using immigration laws to remove potential threats to some of the nation’s most sensitive facilities.”
The investigation began in March 2005, when ICE agents in Tampa, Fla., received information that certain contract employees working at the Crystal River Nuclear Power Plant in Citrus, Florida, were illegal aliens. ICE agents subsequently arrested six illegal aliens performing maintenance work at the nuclear power plant. All were employees of Brock Enterprises of Texas. At least one of these individuals was later indicted on criminal charges for re-entering the country after deportation.
ICE agents in Tampa coordinated their investigation with ICE agents in Houston and Beaumont, Texas, who performed an inspection of Brock Enterprises to review employment records. The ICE audit revealed discrepancies involving an unspecified number of Brock Enterprises employees. ICE agents found that these employees were serving as contract workers at refineries, power plants, and other critical infrastructure locations around the country.
In furtherance of the case, ICE agents today and yesterday arrested 60 illegal aliens who performed contract work at the locations listed below. There is no evidence of any wrongdoing on the part of any of the companies that own the targeted refineries, power plants, and other facilities.
the Centerpoint Energy Power Plant in Jewett, Texas – 10 individuals
the Lagloria Oil & Gas Company Refinery in Tyler, Texas – 2 individuals
the Lyondell-Citgo Refinery in Houston, Texas – 20 individuals
the Phillips-Borger Refinery in Borger, Texas – 6 individuals
the Valero Houston Refinery in Houston, Texas – 1 individual
the Valero-Texas City Refinery in Texas City, Texas – 3 individuals
the Conoco-Phillips Refinery in Wilmington, California – 8 individuals
the Reliant Energy-Ormund BCH Power Plant in Oxnard, California – 2 individuals
the Sunoco, Inc., Refinery in Tulsa, Oklahoma – 5 individuals
the Entergy-Gerald Andrus Power Plant in Greenville, Mississippi – 1 individual
the Federal Express Air Cargo Facility in Memphis, Tennessee – 1 individual
the Gulf South Pipeline Company in Monroe, Louisiana – 1 individual
In accordance with ICE’s homeland security mission, ICE agents prioritize worksite enforcement efforts by focusing on investigations related to critical infrastructure, national security and employers who engage in egregious criminal violations.
Over the past few years, ICE agents have conducted several nationwide operations designed to remove illegal aliens found working at some of the nation’s most sensitive worksites, including airports, nuclear power plants, chemical plants and defense facilities.
At U.S. commercial airports alone, ICE has identified more than 5,800 unauthorized airport workers, arrested more than 1,100 unauthorized alien workers, and obtained 775 criminal indictments.
—ICE—
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http://www.ice.gov/graphics/news/newsreleases/articles/carpenterranson052005.htm
News Release
May 20, 2005
TWO NEW ORLEANS MEN SENTENCED FOR SELLING FALSE IDENTITIES TO PURPORTED MEMBERS OF TERRORIST ORGANIZATION
Both men were aware that Abu Sayyaf was an active terrorist organization
JACKSON, MISS. – Michael A. Holt, Special Agent-in-Charge in New Orleans for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Dunn Lampton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi announced today that two New Orleans men, Cedric Carpenter and Lamont Ranson were sentenced for their involvement in a conspiracy to sell false documents to people they thought were members of Abu Sayyaf, a Philippines-based group that is designated as a foreign terrorist organization. Carpenter was sentenced to 63 months of imprisonment; to be followed by three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay a $2000 fine. Ranson was sentenced to 29 months of imprisonment; to be followed by three years of supervised release and also was fined $2000.
Both defendants entered guilty pleas in late February of this year before U.S. District Judge Tom S. Lee in Jackson, Mississippi, where the defendants had traveled during the conspiracy. Ranson and Carpenter pled guilty to conspiring to provide material support to a known terrorist organization. Carpenter, whose status as a convicted felon prohibited him from owning a gun, also pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm at the time of his arrest in New Orleans.
Carpenter and Ranson agreed to produce false identification documents, namely, Mississippi identification cards, Social Security cards, and birth certificates, knowing that the intended recipients of the false identification documents were represented to be members of Abu Sayyaf. Pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act, Abu Sayyaf was designated as a foreign terrorist organization in October 1997 and has been re-designated every two years thereafter, in 1999, 2001, and 2003.
“The sentencing of these two criminals who were willing to steal identities for the purposes of producing and selling fraudulent identification documents to purported members of a known terrorist organization mark the successful conclusion of this investigation. ICE will continue to diligently pursue individuals that pose a serious threat to our homeland,” said Michael A. Holt, Special Agent-in-Charge in New Orleans for ICE. U.S. Attorney Dunn Lampton praised the efforts of ICE for its investigative efforts.
ICE agents in New Orleans conducted an eight-month investigation of the criminal activities of Carpenter and Ranson. In April 2004, Carpenter and Ranson approached an individual on a cruise ship seeking illegal narcotics, and offering to provide false identity documents. Beginning in June 2004, Carpenter and Ranson had discussions with confidential informants of ICE, about a proposal to produce false identification documents for a group of individuals identified as members of Abu Sayyaf. Ranson was familiar with Abu Sayyaf from his prior service with the U.S. Navy in Far East.
During a series of telephone calls that followed, Carpenter and Ranson continued to describe their ability and willingness to produce authentic documents with fraudulent identifiers using pictures to be supplied by the informants. In late June 2004, Carpenter told one of the informants by telephone that he was then in Jackson, Mississippi to “line up” his contacts for producing the fraudulent identities.
According to the felony information, in early July 2004, Carpenter met with the informant and displayed a complete set of fraudulent identification documents (birth certificate, Social Security card, and Mississippi driver’s license) bearing Carpenter’s photograph and a stolen identity. After viewing the documents, the informant requested five sets of documents. Carpenter responded with an asking price of $100,000, stating he wanted $50,000 in currency and $50,000 worth of heroin (about half a kilogram). In August 2004, Carpenter continued to express interest in completing the transaction, but, ultimately, no deal was ever concluded.
The U.S. Attorney emphasized that at no time in this case was there any imminent foreign terrorist threat to the United States. However, he added that this investigation was very important in helping to identify active criminal elements operating in the area who were willing to furnish fraudulent identity documents to willing purchasers regardless of who the intended recipients were or how such documents would be used.
—ICE—