Two Illegal Aliens Sentenced for Violent Hostage-Taking and Human Smuggling Operation

ALBUQUERQUE - Two illegal immigrants have been sentenced for their roles in a conspiracy involving the hostage-taking, harboring, and transportation of victims at an Albuquerque stash house.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court records, on November 2, 2022, Homeland Security Investigations received a report that a mother and her two daughters, aged six and nine, were being held for ransom at an Albuquerque stash house in southeast Albuquerque. Despite the victims' family having already paid over $30,000 to have them smuggled into the United States, Marcelo Alonso-Almaraz, 36, and his wife Eloisa Almaraz-Vasquez, 38, both Mexican nationals illegally present in the United States, demanded an additional $6,000 for their release. All three victims reported that Alonso-Almaraz threatened the mother with a firearm by pointing it at her to ensure payment.

On November 3, 2022, investigators conducted surveillance on the stash house and observed Alonso-Almaraz and Almaraz-Vasquez exit the residence with the mother and children and enter a Dodge van. Agents maintained continuous surveillance of the van until it arrived at a meet location, where an undercover agent exchanged $6,000 in cash for the safe release of the mother and her daughters. Once the victims were secured, law enforcement moved in and arrested the couple. A search of the van yielded the loaded handgun on the driver-side floorboard and the $6,000 in extortion money.

Following the arrests, the rescued mother detailed a harrowing ordeal where victims were housed in a 1,000 square foot apartment with dozens of other people, stripped of their phones, and fed only twice a day. She described hearing her children's stomachs rumbling from hunger and being forced to wash dishes and serve food to dozens of other occupants in exchange for extra food for her daughters. The rooms were so crowded that the victims could not lie down and were forced to sit on the floor with their legs curled in. On November 4, 2022, agents returned to the stash house and rescued approximately 50 additional victims, including an infant, who were being held in the same volatile environment.

Alonso-Almaraz pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens, eight counts of harboring illegal aliens for financial gain, three counts of transporting illegal aliens for financial gain, and conspiracy to commit hostage taking, three counts of hostage taking, and reentry of a removed alien. Alonso-Almaraz was sentenced to 204 months in prison. Upon his release from prison, he will be subject to deportation.

Almaraz-Vasquez pled guilty to conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens, eight counts of harboring illegal aliens for financial gain, three counts of transporting illegal aliens for financial gain, conspiracy to commit hostage taking, and three counts of hostage taking. Almaraz-Vasquez was sentenced to 120 months in prison. Upon her release from prison, she will be subject to deportation.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Ryan G. McRae of Homeland Security Investigations El Paso made the announcement today.

Homeland Security Investigations El Paso investigated this case with assistance from the Phoenix Police Department and Albuquerque Police Department VICE Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Moghadam and Patrick E. Cordova are prosecuting the case.

The investigation and charges are supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha, the Department's lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking that cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations commit. A highly successful partnership between the departments of Justice and Homeland Security, JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA's mission is to target the leaders and organizers of cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division's Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, Office of International Affairs and Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorney detailees from the Southern District of Texas, Western District of Texas; Southern District of California; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and Districts of Arizona, New Mexico and Vermont. JTFA also partners with other U.S. Attorney's Offices throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE-HSI and Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA's work has resulted in more than 440 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 390 U.S. convictions; more than 330 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.