Authorities conducted a police sting operation in Indiana, capturing four illegal immigrants among 11 alleged sex offenders. The Department of Homeland Security stated these individuals believed they were interacting with underage girls online before planning to meet them for illicit activities. Instead, undercover detectives apprehended them.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has placed detainer requests on the four suspects. They were identified as:
- El Hadji Babacar Ndiaye: A Senegalese citizen, who was initially caught and released at the southern border in September 2023 in Lukeville, Arizona.
- Lucky Philip Udoudo: A Nigerian citizen, who entered the U.S. as a gotaway at an unspecified time and location.
- Filomeno Ricardo Flores Marin: A Mexican citizen, who entered the U.S. illegally in Arizona in 2002.
- David Josue Gomez-Posada: A Salvadoran citizen, who entered the U.S. illegally in 2017 as a juvenile.
Filomeno Marin faces charges including two counts of sex offenses, molestation of a minor, and enticement. He has a criminal record, including a prior arrest for stolen property, and ICE previously detained him in 2019.
Lucky Udoudo is charged with child solicitation and sexual misconduct. David Gomez-Posada and El Hadji Ndiaye face child solicitation charges.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson emphasized the importance of law enforcement partnerships to combat crime and enforce immigration laws. The spokesperson also highlighted that many safe cities in the U.S. work closely with ICE to address such issues.
DHS reported significant arrests, including 40,000 in Florida and 650 during a two-week operation in West Virginia, demonstrating the impact of collaborative efforts.