Lars Larson Show: Criminal Alien of the Week Report

Lars Larson Show: Criminal Alien of the Week Report

March 21, 2024

By David Olen Cross

The “Lars Larson Show: Criminal Alien of the Week Report” in the third week of March 2024 has for your radio listeners and webpage followers a report on a Mexican national, a repeated immigration violator, federally convicted and sentenced for a deadly drug trafficking crime in a U.S. District Court in Portland, Oregon.

Some background information, on Friday, June 9, 2023 the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Oregon (USAODO), issued a news release titled “Drug Trafficker Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distributing Fentanyl Linked to Fatal Overdose in Hillsboro” who the subject of interest was identified as Gerardo Corrales-Aragon (U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon Court Case Number: 3:21-CR -00086).

Here is an extended excerpt from USAODO’s June 9, 2023 news release on Gerardo Corrales-Aragon:

“PORTLAND, Ore.—A drug trafficker was sentenced to federal prison today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl that led to the fatal overdose of a Hillsboro, Oregon man in February 2021.

Gerardo Corrales-Aragon, 30, whose place of residence is unknown, was sentenced to 150 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release.

According to court documents, on February 3, 2021, a 25-year-old man was found deceased by his parents at their home in Hillsboro after he consumed a counterfeit Oxycodone pill containing fentanyl. In less than three weeks, law enforcement uncovered a four-person drug distribution chain whose illicit actions led to the young man’s death. Investigators identified Corrales-Aragon as the individual responsible for transporting the deadly counterfeit pills from California to Oregon for distribution in and around Portland.

On February 23, 2021, law enforcement arrested Corrales-Aragon as he was leaving a local hotel to deliver fentanyl and methamphetamine in exchange for cash. Investigators found 4,000 fentanyl pills and six pounds of methamphetamine in Corrales-Aragon’s backpack and a loaded 9mm “ghost gun” in his waistband. Corrales-Aragon admitted to selling counterfeit pills to the Hillsboro victim’s drug supplier and possessing a firearm for his own protection while trafficking drugs. By the time of his arrest, Corrales-Aragon had been working with Mexican drug cartels to distribute drugs in the U.S. for more than half his life.

On March 16, 2021, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a 13-count indictment charging Corrales-Aragon and four others with conspiring with one another to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and other related offenses.

On March 6, 2023, Corrales-Aragon pleaded guilty and agreed to a sentencing enhancement that his fentanyl distribution resulted in the death of the Hillsboro victim.

This case was investigated by the Portland Police Bureau, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and Hillsboro Police Department with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).” – U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.

Seeking detailed information on the historical immigration status of Gerardo Corrales-Aragon  on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 the “Criminal Alien of the Week Report” contacted via e-mail U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Public Affairs for the Northwest Region.

On Wednesday, March 20, 2024 an ICE Public Affairs Officer (PAO) responded via e-mail with the following statement on Gerardo Corrales-Aragon:

“ICE officers make enforcement decisions on a case-by-case basis in a professional and responsible manner, informed by their experience as law enforcement officials and in a way that best protects against the greatest threats to the homeland.

ON BACKGROUND:

Gerardo Corrales-Aragon, 30, is a citizen of Mexico unlawfully present in the U.S. Officers assigned to ERO Seattle encountered Corrales-Aragon following his arrest on charges related to drug trafficking March 8, 2021, and he is currently incarcerated in Oregon.

Dates and courts of criminal conviction:

• June 13, 2012 – United States District Court District of Arizona, Illegal entry, 30 days incarceration

• March 29, 2016 – United States District Court District of New Mexico, reentry of a removed alien, 17 days incarceration

• June 9, 2023 – United States District Court District of Oregon, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, 150 months incarceration, 5 years of supervised release, and fined $100.00

Dates of previous removals:

• June 14, 2011
• June 22, 2011
• May 25, 2012
• June 11, 2012
• March 13, 2016

### ” – ICE Public Affairs Spokesperson.

After being incarcerated in Oregon, on Thursday, March 21, 2024 Gerardo Corrales-Aragon (Register Number: 71180-308) was in the custody of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) at Lompoc USP located in Lompoc, California. Gerardo Corrales-Aragon’s estimated date of release from the BOP prison system is October 19, 2031.

Gerardo Corrales-Aragon is now one of more than 12-thousand Mexican nationals incarcerated in the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) prison system.

For “Lars Larson Show: Criminal Alien of the Week Report” radio listeners and website followers interested in learning about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), federal anti-drug trafficking role they should visit the HSI webpage titled “Narcotics Smuggling.”

A special thank you goes out again to the ICE Public Affairs team who contributes significant information to help make the “Criminal Alien of the Week Report” possible.

Lars, the third week of March 2024 and another “Criminal Alien of the Week Report” for Lars Larson Show KXL FM 101.1 Pacific Northwest radio listeners and website followers.

David Olen Cross (docfnc) is a reporter on foreign national crime. He is a more than decade long contributor to the “Lars Larson Show: Criminal Alien of the Week Report.” His past crime reporting can be found at https://docfnc.wordpress.com/.

Lars Larson Show: Criminal Alien of the Week Report

Lars Larson Show: Criminal Alien of the Week Report

March 14, 2024

By David Olen Cross

The “Lars Larson Show: Criminal Alien of the Week Report” in the second week of March 2024 has for your radio listeners and website followers a report on two Mexican nationals involved in drug trafficking organization who were federally charged, convicted and sentenced of drug crimes in a U.S. District Court in the state of Washington.

Some background information, on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington (USAOEDW), issued a news release titled “Mexican National Sentenced to 144 Months for Drug Trafficking in the Tri Cities” who the main subject of interest was Rafael Muniz-De La Mora (U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington Case Number: 4:20-CR-06028).

Here is an extended excerpt from USAOEDW’s March 28, 2023 news release on Rafael Muniz-De La Mora:

“Defendant Used a Child to Transport Large Quantities of Methamphetamine in the Tri-Cities Area

Richland, Washington – On March 28, 2023, Senior United States District Judge Edward F. Shea sentenced Rafael Muniz-De La Mora, 49, to 12 years in federal prison after his guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of pure methamphetamine. Muniz-De La Mora, who is from Sinaloa, Mexico, also will serve 5 years of federal supervision after he is released from federal custody.

According to information disclosed during court proceedings, the DEA Tri-Cities Task Force identified Muniz-De La Mora and his Codefendant, Carlos Madrigal-Deniz, during an investigation into a drug trafficking organization operating in the Tri-Cities area. Madrigal-Deniz was brokering pound quantity transactions for the drug trafficking organization, which routinely was distributing 100 to 200 pound shipments of methamphetamine into the Eastern Washington. During the investigation, De La Mora was identified as Madrigal-Deniz’s supplier.

In September 2020, Madrigal-Deniz made arrangements for a ten-pound delivery of methamphetamine from Muniz-De La Mora, who brought a four-year-old child to the transaction. The child was wearing a Spider-Man backpack containing approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine. Muniz-De La Mora escorted the young child, who is seen wearing the backpack, from one vehicle to another. Muniz-De La Mora, the child, and another co-defendant then entered into the second vehicle – a Chevy Cruze. Shortly, thereafter, DEA Tri-Cities stopped the Chevy Cruze and recovered the backpack, which was inside the car, next to the child. Inside the Spider-Man Backpack, the DEA recovered 10 pounds of methamphetamine supplied by Muniz-De La Mora.” – U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington.

More background information, on Friday, August 25, 2023 the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington (USAOEDW), issued a news release titled “Mexican National Sentenced to 136 Months for Drug Trafficking in the Tri Cities” who the main subject of interest was Amado De La Mora Cardenas (U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington Case Number: 4:20-CR-06028).

Here is an extended excerpt from USAOEDW’s August 25, 2023 news release on Amado De La Mora Cardenas:

Distribution involved a Child for Transporting Large Quantities of Methamphetamine

Richland, Washington – On August 23, 2023, Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian sentenced Amado De La Mora Cardenas, age 35, to over 11 years in federal prison after his guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of pure methamphetamine. De La Mora Cardenas, who is from Colima, Mexico, also will serve 5 years of federal supervision after he is released from custody.

According to information disclosed during court proceedings, in April 2020, an investigation was initiated into an organization suspected to be involved in trafficking methamphetamine into the Eastern District of Washington, specifically in the Tri-Cities, Washington, and Connell, Washington, areas. Multiple subjects were identified within the organization to include Carlos Madrigal-Deniz; Amado De La Mora Cardenas, Rafael Muniz De la Mora; and Pascual Masqueda-Salinas, and others.

In September 2020, De La Mora Cardenas and Co-Defendant Madrigal-Deniz made arrangements for a ten-pound delivery of methamphetamine from Muniz-De La Mora, who brought a four-year-old child to the transaction. The child was wearing a Spider-Man backpack containing approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine. Co-Defendant Muniz-De La Mora escorted the young child, who is seen wearing the backpack, from one vehicle to another. Co-Defendant Muniz-De La Mora, the child, and De La Mora Cardenas then entered into the second vehicle – a Chevy Cruze. Shortly thereafter, DEA Tri-Cities stopped the Chevy Cruze and recovered the backpack, which was inside the car, next to the child. Inside the Spider-Man Backpack, the DEA recovered 10 pounds of methamphetamine supplied by De La Mora Cardenas and Co-Defendant Muniz-De La Mora.” – U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington.

Seeking more detailed information immigration status of Mexican national drug trafficker Amado De La Mora Cardenas on Monday, November 27, 2023 the “Criminal Alien of the Week Report” contacted via e-mail U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Public Affairs for the Northwest Region.

On Tuesday, December 12, 2023 an ICE Public Affairs Officer (PAO) responded via e-mail in the following way on the “Criminal Alien of the Week Report’s” request for a statement on Amado De La Mora Cardenas:

“After rereading your inquiry, it does not appear that an answer can be provided by the field office to which I am assigned.

The only information you have provided is from a USAO news release that makes no mention of ICE or DHS; . . .”– ICE Public Affairs Spokesperson.

Currently, Rafael Muniz-De La Mora and Amado De La Mora Cardenas are incarcerated at two separated locations in the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) prison system.

Rafael Muniz-De La Mora (BOP Register Number: 21792-085), age 51, on February 27, 2024 was incarcerated by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) at Sandstone FCI located in Sandstone, Minnesota. Rafael Muniz-De La Mora’s estimated date of release from the BOP prison system is November 25, 2030.

Amado De La Mora Cardenas (BOP Register Number: 21791-085), age 35, on February 27, 2024 was incarcerated by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) at Thomson USP located in Thomson, Illinois. Amado De La Mora Cardenas’ estimated date of release from the BOP prison system is April 22, 2030.

Drug traffickers Rafael Muniz-De La Mora and Amado De La Mora Cardenas are two of the more than 12-thousand Mexican nationals incarcerated in the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) prison system.

For “Lars Larson Show: Criminal Alien of the Week Report” radio listeners and website followers interested in learning about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) role in the enforcement of are nations immigration laws they can visit the ICE website (https://www.ice.gov/).

A thank you goes out to the ICE Public Affairs team who contributed information to help make the “Criminal Alien of the Week Report” possible.

Lars, the second week of March 2024 and another “Criminal Alien of the Week Report” for Lars Larson Show KXL FM 101.1 Pacific Northwest radio listeners and website followers.

David Olen Cross (docfnc) is a reporter on foreign national crime. He is a more than decade long contributor to the “Lars Larson Show: Criminal Alien of the Week Report.” His past crime reporting can be found at https://docfnc.wordpress.com/.

Lars Larson Show: Criminal Alien of the Week Report

Lars Larson Show: Criminal Alien of the Week Report

March 6, 2024

By David Olen Cross

The “Lars Larson Show: Criminal Alien of the Week Report” in the first full week of March 2024 has for your radio listeners and website followers a report on an allegedly impaired Mexican national involved in a traffic accident that took the life of a Washington State Patrol Trooper in the state of Washington.

Some background information, on Sunday, March 3, 2024 Lars Larson received a tip that a Washington State Patrol (WSP) Trooper Christopher M. Gadd had been killed and the suspect named in the connection with the trooper’s death was Raul Benitez Santana. He requested the “Criminal Alien of the Week” reporter investigate the immigration status of Raul Benitez Santana.

Here is an excerpt from Washington State Patrol’s facebook posting regarding the death of WSP Trooper Christopher M. Gadd:

“facebook

Washington State Patrol

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Our Washington State Patrol trooper tragically lost in the line of duty this morning has been identified as Trooper Christopher M. Gadd, a 27-year-old dedicated father, husband, son, brother, and friend. His name was announced during a 1:30 p.m. press conference held in Marysville, which can be viewed here: https://youtube.com/live/-ZRiKbr8acs

Trooper Gadd was killed early this morning after being struck by a motorist on southbound Interstate 5 near 136th Street North in Marysville. He served two-and-a-half years with the WSP.

Trooper Gadd, 27, is survived by his wife, Cammryn, daughter Kaelyn, father WSP Trooper David Gadd, mother Gillian, sister, Jacqueline who currently serves as a trooper with the Texas Department of Public Safety, and many other family members, friends and colleagues.

Trooper Gadd is the 33rd member of the WSP to die in the line of duty in the agency’s 103 years of service to this state.” – Washington State Patrol.

Since being arrested on Saturday, March 2, 2024 Raul Benitez Santana (Inmate Detail – Benitez Santana, Raul; (Subject Number: 2482335: Booking: 2024-00002807) has been incarcerated on Vehicular Homicide and Vehicular Assault charges at the Snohomish County Jail in Everett, Washington.

Seeking information immigration status of Raul Benitez Santana on Monday, March 4, 2024 the “Criminal Alien of the Week Report” contacted via e-mail U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Public Affairs for the Northwest Region.

On Tuesday, March 5, 2024 an ICE Public Affairs Officer (PAO) responded via e-mail in the following way on the “Criminal Alien of the Week Report’s” request for a statement on Raul Benitez Santana:

“ERO Seattle placed an immigration charges related detainer with the Snohomish County Jail, WA, March 4, for Raul Benitez Santana, 32, a citizen of Mexico who is currently being held on to vehicular homicide.

As one of the operational directorates associated with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), ERO Seattle lodges immigration detainers against noncitizens who have been arrested for criminal activity and taken into custody by state or local law enforcement. An immigration detainer is a request from ICE to state or local law enforcement agencies to notify ICE as early as possible before a removable noncitizen is released, allowing ERO to assume custody for possible removal to the subject’s home country in accordance with federal law.

ON BACKGROUND:

Raul Benitez Santana, 32, is a citizen of Mexico unlawfully present in the U.S. Santana entered the U.S. at an unknown date and time, without admission or parole by an immigration officer, and was first encountered by ERO Seattle Oct. 28, 2013, at the South Correctional Entity, Burien, WA, following his arrest for failure to appear for driving while license suspended.

Dates and courts of criminal conviction:

• May 3, 2013 – Lynnwood Municipal Court, driving while license suspended or revoked, $750.00 fine

• May 16, 2013 – Lynnwood Municipal Court, marijuana possession of 40 grams or less, sentenced to 90 days incarceration with 87 days suspended

• Oct. 6, 2014 – SeaTac Municipal Court, driving while license suspended or revoked, sentenced to 90 days incarceration with 85 days suspended

• May 24, 2019 – King County Superior Court, domestic violence assault, no sentencing information available

###” – ICE Public Affairs Spokesperson.

For “Lars Larson Show: Criminal Alien of the Week Report” radio listeners and website followers interested in learning about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), multi-tasking role in the enforcement of are nations immigration laws can visit the ERO webpage simply titled “Enforcement and Removal Operations .”

A special thank you goes out to the ICE Public Affairs team who continues to contribute significant information to help make the “Criminal Alien of the Week Report” possible.

Lars, the first full week of March 2024 and another “Criminal Alien of the Week Report” for Lars Larson Show KXL FM 101.1 Pacific Northwest radio listeners and website followers.

David Olen Cross (docfnc) is a reporter on foreign national crime. He is a more than decade long contributor to the “Lars Larson Show: Criminal Alien of the Week Report.” His past crime reporting can be found at https://docfnc.wordpress.com/.

U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons: Criminal Alien Report February 2024

U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons: Criminal Alien Report February 2024

March 4, 2024

By David Olen Cross

The United States having a significant foreign national population residing within the nation’s boundaries, be they legally or illegally present in the country, unfortunately includes those who commit crimes.

The extent and impact of foreign national crime on the U.S. citizens and residents of this country is clearly revealed by a simple search on the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) inmates statistics website under the heading of inmate citizenship.

Here are the countries of origin, moreover, the number and percentage of those countries citizens recently incarcerated in the U.S. BOP prison system (Note: The most recent BOP crime numbers available were from February 24, 2024.).

Inmate Citizenship:

– Mexico 12,513 inmates, 8.1 percent;
– Dominican Republic 1,584 inmates, 1.0 percent;
– Colombia 1,454 inmates, 0.9 percent;
– Cuba 679 inmates, 0.4 percent;
– Other / unknown countries 7,754 inmates, 5.0 percent;
– United States 131,385 inmates, 84.6 percent;

Total: 155,369 inmates.

To explain the meaning of these preceding criminal alien inmate numbers and percentages, I will translate them into words:

Combining February 24th BOP criminal alien inmate numbers, there were 23,984 criminal aliens in the BOP prison system. Alien inmates were 15.4 percent of the federal prison population.

With 12,513 Mexican nationals being incarcerated in the BOP prison system, at 52.25 percent, they represent a significant majority of criminal aliens in federal prisons.

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons breaks down the federal prison population into 13 types of offenses. One of the top five offenses, the reason inmates are serving time in federal prisons is for immigration crimes. There were 6,915 inmates in the BOP prison system incarcerated for immigration crimes; they were 4.8 percent of the federal prison population.

David Olen Cross of Salem, Oregon is crime researcher who writes on immigration issues and foreign national crime. The preceding report is a service to federal, state, county and city elected and non elected governmental officials to help them assess the impact of foreign national crime in the United States of America. He can be reached at docfnc@yahoo.com. His past crime reports can be found at https://docfnc.wordpress.com/.