UPDATE: Feds charge local man with possessing child porn



Federal agents searched a home Friday morning in Palmer Township but didn't make any arrests.

Special agents with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations entered 1223 Tatamy Road -- several homes south of Tracy Elementary School -- before 8 a.m. and stayed until just after 9:30 a.m.

They "executed a sealed search warrant ... as part of an ongoing criminal probe," an ICE regional spokesman wrote in an email. "As the search warrant is under federal seal, we would be unable to elaborate further at this time."

The agents typically "investigate a broad range of federal crimes including financial crimes, child exploitation, transnational gang activity, intellectual property theft, human smuggling and trafficking, among others," the spokesman said in an email.

Northampton County records say the home has been owned since 1979 by William and Minnie Markovitz.

But neighbors Stephen and Justine Mitala, who at 69 and 72 have lived up the street since 1974, said the owners are both in nursing homes.

When Stephen Mitala went to pick up his morning paper on the stoop, he said he called to his wife about what was going on.

They said they haven't seen much unusual activity since a new resident moved in several months ago, except the wash is hung on the line in the middle of the night.

They said the neighborhood is quiet and there hasn't been so many police there since an armed standoff across the street about 10 years ago.

Township police officers hovered on the edge of the yard, but they were just standing by and weren't involved in the probe, they said.

Agents walked in and out and some items were placed in what appeared to be clear plastic evidence bags. An agent could be seen carrying what looked like a computer in and out of the home.

Investigative vans were set up along the entrance to Keystone Park.

Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.