U.S. Senator Calls For Investigation
TAMPA — As a new special agent is set to take over the local office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a federal investigation is unfolding into the former chief, and a U.S. senator is taking an interest in the case.
Elissa Brown, head of the Chicago office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is set to temporarily take over the Tampa office Monday. Brown, who has been with the customs service since 1987, has served as assistant director of the agency’s financial investigations division and director of its smuggling investigations division.
The office had been headed by Frank Figueroa until the day after he was charged Oct. 25 with exposing himself in front of a 16-year-old girl. Because Figueroa is a senior-level manager, he is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General, said Pam McCullough, ICE spokeswoman in Tampa.
On Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, sent a letter to Michael Chertoff, homeland security secretary, calling for his department to investigate whether Figueroa has any arrests.
Neither McCullough, nor ICE Washington press secretary Dean Boyd would comment about the investigation or the contents of Grassley’s letter, citing the ongoing investigation. Homeland Security spokeswoman Valerie Smith did not return a phone call to her office Wednesday afternoon.
The 49-year-old Figueroa — once the head of Operation Predator, charged with arresting those who sexually exploit children — was arrested in the food court of The Mall at Millenia in Orlando.
According to Orlando police, the girl said she was sitting 10 feet from Figueroa and watched as he “hiked his shorts up and exposed his penis.” After his arrest, Figueroa, who is married and has two daughters, ages 25 and 13, was placed on administrative leave.
Brian Phillips, Figueroa’s Orlando-based attorney, did not return calls and e-mail seeking comment Wednesday afternoon.
