COLUMBUS, Ohio - Eleven illegal aliens from Venezuela and Colombia have been charged federally in a case involving the sex trafficking of a minor and an adult, drug trafficking, and firearms trafficking. Ten were arrested today in Ohio, Tennessee, North Carolina and Florida.

"These defendants-ten of whom are currently illegally present in this country-allegedly engaged in a panoply of illicit trafficking activity, from drugs to firearms to human beings, including the sex-trafficking of a 14 year-old child," said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. "We have no tolerance for anybody who commits such crimes in our communities and we will prosecute them to fullest extent of the law."

"We will continue to work hard to keep Ohio safe and get narcotics, firearms, and violent criminals off the streets," stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Jason Cromartie. "These indictments would not be possible without the strong partnerships with our state, local, and federal partners."

"Today's enforcement actions are the result of continued coordination with our law enforcement partners to investigate networks of criminals who illegally possess and sell firearms," said ATF Special Agent in Charge Jorge Rosendo. "The ATF will continue to hold accountable those who violate federal firearms laws."

"This indictment demonstrates the Homeland Security Task Force's unwavering commitment to protecting our communities from transnational criminal organizations that profit from exploiting vulnerable individuals and trafficking dangerous drugs and firearms," said HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. "HSI, working alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively investigate and dismantle criminal networks that threaten public safety."

A Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) investigation led to the 30-count indictment that was returned on June 11 and unsealed today.

According to the indictment, from July through August 2025, four of the defendants conspired to sex traffic a 17-year-old and an adult victim. The charging document details that, in relation to this alleged conspiracy, defendants traveled interstate to promote prostitution. Additional charges included creating online commercial sex advertisements in the central Ohio area.

From at least May 2025 until April 2026, defendants allegedly participated in a narcotics conspiracy involving MDMA or ecstasy. Finally, the indictment alleges that some of the defendants unlawfully possessed firearms as illegal aliens and illegally trafficked at least nine firearms.

Those indicted and a list of their charges includes:

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit announced the charges. The Columbus Division of Police, DEA, Franklin County Sheriff's Office and United States Marshals Service have provided significant assistance in this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Sheila G. Lafferty and Jennifer M. Rausch are representing the United States.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Columbus comprises agents and officers from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

# # #