there's no explanation of WHO is writing this and WHO you're contacting and WHAT the consequences will be of contacting.  I know that the email address suggests that it's the Department of Homeland Security,but to my knowledge, the government doesn't operate this way.   Among other things, it doesn't use the letterhead of an agency to communicate.  If this were real, it would probably redirect to the dhs website.  Something's fishy.

I would hope that former agency ladies wouldn't be naive enough to incriminate themselves.

Isn't that the motto of the IRS:

'We're Here to Help!'

Do a google search of the indicted's name and you'll see he was arrested recently.  DHS did make these changes to the website.    

Another thing noted in the news is that another individual was charged as an accomplice for writing positive reveiws for his agency on TER, and receiving discounts for those positive reviews.   In other words he was promoting prostitution also, and is charged accordingly.  

Gotta be super careful with what you do in relation to this "hobby".

The link implies that "Marco" was a bad dude with whom to be associated.  I hope that no one is unwitting enough to fall for the offer for mainly for two reasons:

1.  If one worked for "Marco", they would be opening themselves up for prosecution for being associated with Marco.

2.  If one used "Marco's" services, then they too would be subjected to soliciting charges.

A third reason to not go for this is that I don't think that "Marco" acted alone.  So could this be a ploy to expose who is involved, and how far reaching the organization goes?  Not to mention the retribution and retaliation end.  I believe that it would be smart to just walk away.

I agree LE agencies don't normally operate this way.  But who knows??????  I've seen and read of worse non-thinking acts some are capable.

Sure looks fishy to me.
But.....
They have been known to confiscate websites of providers in the past .
I believe if that is indeed what happened the site would clearly be pulled meaning All HTML removed and only a blank generic page would remain.
Another thought I have is some disgruntled person hacked the FTP password & re-wrote the HTML script  for revenge LOL

I see.
That sucks for them.
I hope no young ladies fall for it.

I would say it looks pretty fishy and not a typical SOP for a government agency.

website.  Do you have a link to that?  

What doesn't make sense, among other things, is that it still has the name of the agency at the top...there's absolutely no indication that this is the government.  Also, if you look closely at the two email addresses for the Spanish and English, they're slightly different.

I don't think this is Homeland Security.  And if it is, it's a sting.

the phone number is the number of the government investigation dept.  

Strange way to operate...

-- Modified on 3/20/2009 8:54:08 AM

From what I have heard, it is 100% true.  Homeland security is asking ladies for help in
convicting this man and does NOT intend on using the information against the ladies.

To me, it makes sense they would take over the site but leave the name.  They are trying to get help and info from the patrons also.

Also seems odd that the email address specified homeland security; as Immigration and Customers Enforcement has their own website (www.ice.gov), I would think any emails would go there.

It leads to this place. ICE Doubtful any person will call.

It would seem that the Feds are after much bigger fish in this situation. The Detroit, Michigan, Office of Investigations, US Immigration And Customs Enforcement (ICE), apparently is leading the investigation of Miami Ultimate(MMU) and Marco, probably because Detroit is the first city where ICE discovered the true business of MU and was able to obtain information from the Latina illegal immigrants who ICE had detained.
http://www.google.com/search?q=Rafael+%27%27Marco%27%27+Bernabe-Caballero&sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1B3GGGL_enUS317US318

They have probably offered immunity from prosecution and deportation with a promise of a green card in the future if the ladies cooperate with the investigation. ICE probably wants to know the names of MU agents who helped the ladies to illegally enter the US, the names of other people who helped to finance the operations of MU, etc. I don't believe that it is unusual or suspicious that ICE is using the MU website to reach out to former workers of the Agency, most of whom were native Spanish speakers. Notice that the request for information is written in both English and Spanish. The Feds are not after the ladies or the  john's, they are after The Big Fish, not Marco. Marco is merely the tip of the ICEberg.

-- Modified on 3/20/2009 10:40:37 PM

There's also the problem that the authorties might very well keep their word and not prosecute people helping in this matter, but that the association could be used against the same person in a later indictment.  Around these parts its called Spriegel evidence (past acts used as evidence in a current indictment even though they are unrelated).

Two Minnesota words:  Spriegel Evidence.