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Pennsylvania Man Charged in Attempted Luring of Teaneck Child

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Teaneck Nj, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 37-year-old THOMAS G. RUTLEDGE of Green Lane, PA on charges of luring and endangering the welfare of a child. The arrest was the result of a months-long investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck and the Teaneck Police Department under the direction of Chief Andrew McGurr.

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‘Crocodile of Wall Street’ and Her Husband Arrested for Alleged Conspiracy to Launder $4.5 Billion in Stolen Cryptocurrency

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Government Seized $3.6 Billion in Stolen Cryptocurrency Directly Linked to 2016 Hack of Virtual Currency Exchange

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

New York NY, two individuals were arrested this morning in Manhattan for an alleged conspiracy to launder cryptocurrency that was stolen during the 2016 hack of Bitfinex, a virtual currency exchange, presently valued at approximately $4.5 billion. Thus far, law enforcement has seized over $3.6 billion in cryptocurrency linked to that hack.

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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations launch Operation Stolen Promise to combat COVID-19 related fraud and other criminal activity

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ,  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) announced Wednesday the launch of Operation Stolen Promise to combat COVID-19 related fraud and other criminal activity. The operation intensifies collaboration with multiple federal departments and agencies, along with business and industry representatives. Surging criminal activity surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic requires an equally robust investigative response to protect the American public.

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Edgewater Man Charged With Using Social Media To Threaten To Kill Federal Agents

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Edgewater NJ,  A Bergen County, New Jersey, man was arrested this morning after using his Twitter account to threaten to kill agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Carlos Alejandro Tariche, 22, of Edgewater, New Jersey, was arrested by agents of U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and charged by complaint with one count of interstate communications containing threats to injure. He is scheduled to appear this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court.

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ICE: 19 Foreign nationals indicted for Voter Fraud in 2016

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

WILMINGTON NC,  Nineteen foreign nationals were charged with unlawfully voting in the 2016 elections Friday, and a U.S. citizen was charged with aiding and abetting an alien to falsely claim U.S. citizenship to register to vote. The indictments follow an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) as part of a newly created Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF) in the Eastern District of North Carolina.

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Maywood Human Trafficking Fugitive Arrested Pennsylvania

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August 3,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Maywood NJ, Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo announced the arrest of KEVIN J. NEWELL (DOB: 11/10/1962; married; salesman) of 94 East Pleasant Avenue, Maywood, New Jersey, a fugitive from justice based on multiple charges filed in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti, the Maywood Police Department under the direction of David Pegg, Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) – Pittsburgh Field Office, and the North Strabane (PA) Police Department.

On Tuesday, July 31, 2018, in connection with a months-long human trafficking and child sexual exploitation investigation initiated by HSI and the North Strabane Police Department, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit and special agents from HSI executed a search warrant at the residence of Kevin J. NEWELL. NEWELL was taken into custody and charged by Pennsylvania authorities with Trafficking In Individuals (PA 18 § 3011 §§ A1); Trafficking In Minors (PA 18 § 3011 §§ B); Unlawful Contact With A Minor – Sexual Offenses (PA 18 § 6318 §§ A1); Photograph/File/Depict On Computer Sex Act – Knowingly Or Permitting Child (PA 18 § 6312 §§ B1); and Criminal Use Of Communication Facility (PA 18 § 7512 §§ A). He was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending extradition proceedings.

Acting Prosecutor Calo states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Acting Prosecutor Calo would like to thank Homeland Security Investigations, North Strabane (PA) Police Department, and the Maywood Police Department for their assistance, as well as the Lyndhurst Police Department, which participates in the Bergen County Cyber Crimes Task Force.

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ICE delivers audit notices to businesses in New Jersey and across the US

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July 26,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

WASHINGTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) announced Tuesday the results of a two-phase nationwide operation in which I-9 audit notices were served to more than 5,200 businesses around the country since January with 75 of which operate in New Jersey. A notice of inspection (NOI) informs business owners that ICE is going to audit their hiring records to determine whether they are complying with existing law.

From July 16 to 20, the second phase of the operation, HSI served 2,738 NOIs and made 32 arrests. During the first phase of the operation, Jan. 29 to March 30, HSI served 2,540 NOIs and made 61 arrests.
“This is not a victimless crime,” said Derek N. Benner, Acting Executive Associate Director for HSI. “Unauthorized workers often use stolen identities of legal U.S. workers, which can significantly impact the identity theft victim’s credit, medical records and other aspects of their everyday life.”

While the agency routinely conducts worksite investigations to uphold federal law, HSI is currently carrying out its commitment to increase the number of I-9 audits in an effort to create a culture of compliance among employers, according to Benner.

HSI’s worksite enforcement strategy focuses on the criminal prosecution of employers who knowingly break the law, and the use of I-9 audits and civil fines to encourage compliance with the law. HSI’s worksite enforcement investigators help combat worker exploitation, illegal wages, child labor and other illegal practices.

HSI’s worksite enforcement investigations often involve additional criminal activity, such as alien smuggling, human trafficking, money laundering, document fraud, worker exploitation and/or substandard wage and working conditions.

Earlier this month, a U.S. District Court judge issued a preliminary injunction of the portion of California AB 450 preventing private employers from voluntarily cooperating with federal immigration officials conducting worksite enforcement operations. The U.S. Department of Justice, in March 2018, filed a preemption lawsuit to stop California from interfering with federal immigration authorities, including the imposition of fines against employers ranging from $2000 to $10,000 for failure to comply with AB 450. The court found the law discriminates against California employers who wish to cooperate with immigration officials enforcing the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA), which requires employers to verify the identity and work eligibility of individuals they hire.

ICE is the federal agency responsible for upholding the laws established by IRCA. These laws help protect jobs for U.S. citizens and others who are lawfully employed, eliminate unfair competitive advantages for companies that hire an illegal workforce, and strengthen public safety and national security.

Under federal law, employers are required to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all individuals they hire, and to document that information using the Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9. ICE uses the I-9 inspection program to promote compliance with the law, part of a comprehensive strategy to address and deter illegal employment. Inspections are one of the most powerful tools the federal government uses to ensure that businesses are complying with U.S. employment laws.

After receiving the NOIs, employers are required to produce their company’s I-9s within three business days, after which ICE will conduct an inspection for compliance. If employers are not in compliance with the law, an I-9 inspection of their business will likely result in civil fines and could lay the groundwork for criminal prosecution if they are knowingly violating the law. All workers encountered during these investigations who are unauthorized to remain in the United States are subject to administrative arrest and removal from the country.

Failure to follow the law can result in criminal and civil penalties. In FY17, businesses were ordered to pay $97.6 million in judicial forfeitures, fines and restitution, and $7.8 million in civil fines, including one company whose financial penalties represented the largest payment ever levied in an immigration case.

“Employers need to understand that the integrity of their employment records is just as important to the federal government as the integrity of their tax files and banking records. All industries, regardless of size, location and type are expected to comply with the law,” Benner said. “Worksite enforcement protects jobs for U.S. citizens and others who are lawfully employed, eliminates unfair competitive advantages for companies that hire an illegal workforce, and strengthen public safety and national security.”

HSI uses a three-pronged approach to worksite enforcement: compliance, from I-9 inspections, civil fines and referrals for debarment; enforcement, through the criminal arrest of employers and administrative arrest of unauthorized workers; and outreach, through the ICE Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers, or IMAGE program, to instill a culture of compliance and accountability.

From Oct. 1, 2017, through July 20, 2018, HSI opened 6,093 worksite investigations and made 675 criminal and 984 administrative worksite-related arrests, respectively. In fiscal year 2017 – October 2016 to September 2017 – HSI opened 1,716 worksite investigations; initiated 1,360 I-9 audits; and made 139 criminal arrests and 172 administrative arrests related to worksite enforcement.