On Friday, HPD received a 911 call from a woman who said that her brother had been kidnapped.
She said she paid $11,000 in February to smugglers to bring her brother from Honduras to the US and she was now told that she had to pay an additional $6,300 for her brother to be released.
She says the smugglers threatened to kill her brother if she did bring the money.
The Investigation led to a home in Southwest Houston where office found 97-illegal immigrants being held in two rooms
The Department of Justice said in a press release:
“The criminal complaint charges Marina Garcia-Diaz, 22, El Salvador; Henry Licona-Larios, 31, Copan, Honduras; Kevin Licona-Lopez, 25, Santa Barbara, Honduras; Marco Baca-Perez 30, Michoacan, Mexico; and Marcelo Garcia-Palacios, 21, Oaxaca, Mexico. All are noncitizens of the United States residing here illegally. They are expected to make their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina Bryan at 2 p.m. today.
The criminal complaint, filed Saturday, alleges all five harbored, concealed and shielded illegal aliens for the purpose of commercial advantage or private financial gain…
All of the male individuals were in their undergarments, according to the complaint.
The charges also allege at least one was told if the money was not paid, he would be put in “4 pieces of wood.”
Several of the held individuals allegedly identified Garcia-Diaz, Licona-Larios, Licona-Lopez, Baca-Perez and Garcia-Palacios as those conducting the smuggling operation.
If convicted, each faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum.”