Office of Investigations Buffalo, New York

Transcription

1

2

3 Office of Investigations Buffalo, New York SAC Peter J. Smith ASAC Nicholas DiNicola ASAC Thomas A. DiSimone ASAC Lev J. Kubiak 3

4 Background The Department of Homeland Security was created by President Bush on November 25, Its creation was the most significant transformation of US government since Homeland Security combined 22 existing Federal agencies and approximately 170,000 employees. Legacy Customs and INS Special Agents combined into ICE as the primary investigative arm of Homeland Security. On March 3, 2003, ICE began operating as a combined agency with approximately 6,000 Special Agents from US Customs, INS, Federal Protective Service (FPS). Greatly expanded investigative authority. 4

5 ICE Components Federal Protective Service (FPS): Previously located within the GSA, protects federal property within the borders of the United States, employees working in federal facilities and public visitors to those facilities. Detention and Removal (DRO) : Detention and Removal, which was previously located within INS, provides safe, secure, and humane confinement of persons detained; provides effective control of persons released into the community during immigration proceedings or while awaiting removal; and removes individuals, especially criminals and other threats to national security and public safety, who are unlawfully present in the United States. 5

6 ICE Components Investigations (OI) : Conducts a broad-array of customs and immigration related investigations including those that involve national security, export control, terrorist financing, commercial fraud, critical infrastructure protection, human trafficking, contraband smuggling, identity and benefits fraud, worksite enforcement and human rights violations. Intelligence: Collects, analyzes, exploits, and disseminates customs, immigration and FPS related intelligence in support of overall DHS, BTS, and ICE goals and priorities. 6

7 Homeland Security Structure 7

8 8

9 ICE Headquarters Structure 9

10 ICE HQ STRUCTURE 10

11 ICE INVESTIGATIONS STRUCTURE 11

12 OFFICE OF INVESTIGATIONS 12

13 SAC OPERATIONS 13

14 Office of International Affairs ICE has over 350 personnel located in over 50 Attaché offices in more than 40 countries 14

15 Buffalo SAC Office Area of Responsibility 15

16 Buffalo SAC Area of Responsibility 16

17 SAC BUFFALO STRUCTURE Special Agent in Charge Office, Buffalo, NY SAC Peter J. Smith ASAC Nicholas Dinicola ASAC Thomas Disimone ASAC Lev J. Kubiak Resident Agent in Charge Syracuse/Alexandria Bay RAC Edward Pollock Resident Agent in Charge Rouses Point RAC Vacant Acting RAC Joseph Miller Group 1- Human Smuggling G/S Vacant Acting G/S Kevin Ryan Group 3- Fraud/Cyber G/S Mark Tayler Group 1 - Narcotics/Finnancial G/S Vincent Salvatore Group 3 - Criminal Alien/Fraud G/S Peter F. Hoelter Resident Agent in Charge Albany RAC John (Jack) C. McQuade Resident Agent in Charge Massena RAC VACANT Group 2- Worksite Enforcement G/S Edward McCabe Group 4- National Security/JTTF G/S Mark LaMonte Group 2 - Narcotics/Finnancial G/S Vacant Acting G/S Matt Scarpino Management Program Group Francine Gaczewski Administrative Officer 17

18 SAC Buffalo Counties covered: Alleghany Ontario Cattaraugus Orleans Chautauqua Schuyler Chemung Seneca Erie Steuben Genesee Livingston Wayne Monroe Wyoming Niagara Yates 18

19 RAC Syracuse Counties covered: Broome Chenango Cortland Jefferson Lewis Madison Oneida Onondaga Oswego Tioga Tompkins Cayuga 19

20 RAC Massena Counties covered: Franklin (West portion) St. Lawrence 20

21 RAC Rouses Point Counties covered: Clinton Essex Franklin (East portion) 21

22 RAC Albany Counties covered: Albany Hamilton Saratoga Columbia Herkimer Schenectady Delaware Montgomery Schoharie Fulton Otsego Warren Greene Rensselaer Washington 22

23 ICE MISSION STATEMENT 23

24 ICE Office of Investigations The mission of the Office of Investigations is to focus on a broad array of national security, financial, and smuggling violations including illegal arms exports, financial crimes, commercial fraud, human trafficking, narcotics smuggling, child pornography/exploitation and immigration fraud. Using their unique legal authorities, ICE Special Agents also conduct investigations aimed at protecting critical infrastructure industries that are vulnerable to sabotage, attack or exploitation. 24

25 ICE Mission The ICE mission is to protect the United States and its people by deterring, interdicting, and investigating threats arising from the movement of people and goods into and out of the United States; and by policing and securing federal government facilities across the nation. In fulfilling this mission, we bring to bear the talent and commitment of an outstanding workforce, as well as a full range of legal authorities that have been entrusted to us. Our vision is to be a preeminent law enforcement agency one that provides unparalleled investigation, interdiction, and security services to the public and to our law enforcement partners. 25

26 PRIORITIES 26

27 Financial Investigations ICE investigates financial crimes and helps the financial community identify and eliminate potential weaknesses in our nation s financial infrastructure. ICE draws on more than thirty years of expertise to expand its existing capabilities in an effort to better protect America s financial service systems from illegal money laundering, insurance schemes, bulk cash smuggling, and other financial crimes. 27

28 CORNERSTONE Cornerstone focuses on identifying means and methods used by criminal organizations to exploit financial systems through the transfer, laundering and/or concealment of the true source of criminal proceeds. Work with specific private sector industries to gather new information and reduce vulnerabilities found within existing financial systems. Assign a dedicated special agent to each of the 25 ICE field offices to liaison with the private sector. 28

29 CORNERSTONE Work with financial institutions security teams to help them understand how criminal organizations exploit financial systems in their industry. Provide the private sector with a quarterly newsletter titled Trip Wire that identifies and details specific typologies of abuse of certain financial systems by criminal organizations and to provide recommendations on how to detect and prevent such exploitations. 29

30 National Security Investigations ICE conducts investigations designed to protect our national security by combating terrorism and preventing the illegal importation, exportation, and transfer of: Weapons of Mass Destruction Arms and munitions Critical technology 30

31 Project Shield America Integral part of ICE strategy to combat international terrorism. Protects the American public from the introduction of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and other instruments of terror into the U.S. Prevents international terrorists and criminal organizations from obtaining WMD materials and technologies, arms, funds and other support from U.S. and foreign sources. 31

32 Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) Conduct investigations to detect, interdict, prosecute and pursue removal of alien terrorists, terrorist supporters, and hostile foreign intelligence agents located within the United States. ICE Agents assigned to sixty-six (66) FBI Joint Terrorist Task Forces throughout the US. ICE Special Agents assigned full-time to JTTF units in all twenty-six SAC offices. SAC Buffalo has six JTTF Agents assigned in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Albany offices. 32

33 Smuggling/Public Safety ICE conducts investigations designed to identify, disrupt, and dismantle significant organizations that: smuggle contraband and humans into the United States pose a threat to the health, safety, and rights of our people threaten our critical infrastructure defraud the United States Program areas include: Commercial Fraud Critical Infrastructure Protection Smuggling/Human Trafficking Contraband Smuggling Identity and Benefits Fraud Worksite Enforcement Human Rights Violations 33

34 COMMUNITY SHIELD Operation Community Shield, launched in March 2005, is ICE s comprehensive law enforcement initiative targeting violent criminal street gangs nationwide. Initially, the focus of the effort was the Mara Salvatrucha organization, commonly referred to as MS-13, one of the most violent and rapidly growing of these street gangs. During Phase I, ICE arrested 359 MS-13 members including 10 clique leaders. In May 2005, ICE expanded Operation Community Shield to include all criminal street gangs that pose a risk to public safety and a concern to national security, putting into motion an aggressive law enforcement action with the goal to investigate, arrest and prosecute any violent street gang members, leaders and/or associates of MS-13, as well as other gangs such as Sureños, 18th Street gang, Latin Kings, Vatos Locos, Mexican Mafia, La Raza gang, Border Brothers, Brown Pride, Norteno, Florencia 13, Tiny Rascal, Asian Boyz and Jamaican Posse, that routinely seek to exploit or engage in violent criminal activities. Under Operation Community Shield, ICE focuses its powerful enforcement tool on a single goal: dismantling gang organizations by targeting its members, seizing its financial assets and disrupting its criminal operations. 34

35 WORKSITE ENFORCEMENT Worksite enforcement investigations focus on egregious employers involved in criminal activity or worker exploitation. These types of employer violations often involve alien smuggling, document fraud, human rights abuses and/or other criminal or substantive administrative immigration or customs violations having a direct nexus to the employment of unauthorized workers. Worksite investigations also encompass employers that may subject unauthorized alien workers to substandard or abusive working conditions. Worksite investigations also include employers who utilize force, threat or coercion, such as threats to have employees deported in order to keep the alien from reporting the substandard wage or poor working conditions. 35

36 Operation Predator New initiative developed by ICE to protect children world-wide. Comprehensive program to identify and remove (foreign national) child predators. Identify and prosecute persons responsible for making and distributing pornographic material. ICE Cyber-Smuggling Center hosts comprehensive, searchable system for identifying digital child pornography images. Designed to help law enforcement agencies world-wide identify and rescue children featured in the images. 36

37 Narcotics Interdiction Investigate international narcotics smuggling organizations. Conduct interdiction at international port of entries. Participate in Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) concept. Share drug intelligence with state and local law enforcement agencies. 37

38 Law Enforcement Support Center (LESC) Serves as a national enforcement operations center by providing timely immigration status and identity information to local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Operates 24/7 providing real-time assistance to law enforcement agencies investigating, or have arrested, foreign-born nationals involved in criminal activity. LESC administers and controls (ICE) immigration related cases entered into NCIC. Contact via NLETS using message key IAQ. Messages may be directed via NLETS to VTINS07S0. 38

39 UNYRIC Legacy Customs and INS historically have maintained an excellent working relationship with the New York State Police. With the transition to Homeland Security, ICE will strive to continue this relationship and offer assistance in any related investigations. SAC Buffalo office participates in NYSP sponsored program UNYRIC. 39

40 CONTACTS 40

41 ICE CONTACT NUMBERS SAC Buffalo Peter J Smith (716) ASAC Thomas DiSimone (716) ASAC Lev J. Kubiak (716) ASAC (RAC Offices) Nick DiNicola (716) RAC Syracuse Edward Pollock (315) RAC Massena Acting RAC (315) RAC Rouses Point Acting RAC (518) RAC Albany Jack McQuade (518)

42