stanforddams/biglocal huggingface dataset:
May 20, 2025Albuquerque, NM, United StatesHuman Smuggling/Trafficking

Virginia man charged with conspiracy in smuggling of Honduran unaccompanied alien child following ICE Las Cruces, federal partner investigation

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.- A Virginia man has been charged with conspiracy to transport an illegal alien after he arranged and paid for the smuggling of a 17-year-old Honduran unaccompanied alien child into the United States. The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in collaboration with federal and state partners.

Luis Alonso Argueta-Diaz, 35, was arrested May 19 in Virginia without incident.

According to court documents, on May 3, U.S. Border Patrol agents apprehended a 17-year-old unaccompanied alien minor from Honduras near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, after she unlawfully entered the United States. The investigation revealed that Argueta-Diaz, had arranged and partially paid for the minor’s smuggling into the country. When questioned by ICE Homeland Security Investigations, Argueta-Diaz admitted to coordinating and financing the minor’s journey with the intent for her to live with him and assist in caring for his children.

Argueta-Diaz is charged with conspiracy to transport an illegal alien and will remain in local custody pending trial. No date for the trial has been set. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case.

This criminality – carried out by individuals, businesses, and transnational criminal organizations – is not only a threat to the unaccompanied alien children themselves, but also to the broader communities in which they live and to the public safety and national security of the United States. Individuals across the world can report suspicious criminal activity to the ICE Tip Line 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 866-DHS-2-ICE. Highly trained specialists take reports from both the public and law enforcement agencies on more than 400 laws enforced by ICE.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Updated: 05/20/2025
March 15, 2026Washington, DC, United StatesNarcotics

Washington man sentenced to 20 years following HSI investigation into commercial pill press operation

The man and his co-conspirator used a pill press from China and set up shop in his basement, obtaining enough fentanyl powder to make 2 million pills containing a lethal dose

WASHINGTON — A federal judge sentenced Nicholas Adams, 37, to 20 years in prison March 6 for his role in a clandestine pill press operation run out of his basement in Spokane, Washington. The sentence followed an HSI Seattle, DEA, Spokane Police Department and RAVEN Task Force investigation.

“Adams and his co-conspirator obtained a Chinese pill press and set up an operation in his basement,” said ICE Director Todd M. Lyons. “The two men mixed powdered fentanyl and cutting agents to make their own pills for bulk distribution — and as if that weren’t enough, they also possessed large quantities of meth, heroin, cocaine, MDMA and marijuana. The DEA discovered multiple loaded firearms in their residences, including a fully automatic machine gun, and three sets of body armor.”

Adams, a serial criminal whose history includes controlled substance abuse, was initially released from custody after being arrested for this offense to attend inpatient drug treatment. However, he continued to use drugs and was returned to custody.

Learn more about this case here.

You can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

Learn more about ICE’s public safety mission on X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky or Truth Social.

Updated: 04/08/2026
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July 28, 2025Washington, DC, United StatesLaw Enforcement

Woman who assaulted federal agents arrested, charged following ICE Washington, D.C. investigation

Washington, D.C. woman attempted to impede transfer of alleged gang member to ICE custody

WASHINGTON — A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations Washington, D.C. field office investigation led to a Washington, D.C. woman’s arrest in connection with an assault on federal agents who were helping transfer an alleged international gang member at the D.C. Central Detention Facility. Sydney Lori Reid, 44, of the District of Columbia, was charged July 23 in U.S. District Court with assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers or employees.

“Sydney Lori Reid actively and intentionally assaulted federal law enforcement officers while they were taking custody of two apparent gang members and dangerous individuals,” said ICE HSI Washington, D.C. acting Special Agent in Charge Christopher Heck. “Her actions could have led to serious injuries to federal agents, as well as two criminal alien offenders absconding justice and reoffending in our Washington, D.C. community. HSI will continue to investigate and apprehend any individuals who obstruct federal law enforcement actions”

This case is being investigated by HSI Washington, D.C. It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our communities on X at @HSI_DC.

Updated: 07/31/2025
September 10, 2025New York, NY, United StatesHuman Trafficking, Child Exploitation

Yearslong ICE investigation results in stiff charges for church leaders and 5 others for racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking of minors and adults, and child exploitation enterprise

Leader of La Luz Del Mundo Church leader Naasón Joaquín García and 5 others, allegedly the defendants, engaged in a racketeering enterprise that exploited church members for decades to facilitate the systemic sexual abuse of children and women

NEW YORK — An investigation by ICE Homeland Security Investigations New York, with assistance from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Chicago and federal partners, resulted in the unsealing of an indictment charging Naasón Joaquín García, Rosa Sosa, Azalia Rangel García, Eva García De Joaquín, Joram Núñez Joaquín and Silem García Peña with sexual, financial and related criminal conduct victimizing members of the La Luz del Mundo Church over many years.

As alleged in the indictment, the defendants engaged in a racketeering enterprise that exploited the LLDM Church and persisted for decades to facilitate the systemic sexual abuse of children and women — including the creation of photos and videos of sadistic child sexual abuse. For decades, the Joaquín LLDM Enterprise operated for the sexual gratification of Naasón and his father, the former leader of the Joaquín LLDM Enterprise, Samuel Joaquín Flores, who died in 2014.

“A yearslong investigation that spanned the country and involved the support of dozens of courageous victims culminated with today’s charges stemming from decades of alleged exploitation and outright abuse of young woman and children. The defendants are accused of targeting individuals who gave LLDM Church their unquestioning trust and devotion and who in turn endured unimaginable crimes. Make no mistake, the defendants' alleged cycle of victimization ends today,” said HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel. “I thank the brave survivors who provided law enforcement with vital information related to these allegations, and I encourage others with helpful information to do the same.”

Naasón was taken into federal custody Sept. 10 in Chino, California, where he is serving a state sentence for sexually abusing children. García De Joaquín was arrested in Los Angeles Sept. 10 and is expected to be presented in the Central District of California. Núñez Joaquín was arrested outside of Chicago this morning and is expected to be presented in the afternoon of Sept. 10 in the Northern District of Illinois. Sosa, Rangel García, and García Peña are at large and believed to be in Mexico. The U.S. government will seek their arrest and extradition to face these charges in the U.S.

Read more about the allegations and the investigation leading to today’s announcement.

Updated: 09/11/2025