Honduran migrants in New Mexico accused of kidnapping for ransom

Two Honduran migrants, Darwin Jeovany Palma Pastrana and Eduar Isrrael Sauceda Nuñez, have been charged with conspiring to kidnap other migrants for ransom in New Mexico. Palma, 30, was arrested on August 21, while Sauceda, 25, remains at large. The duo allegedly transported migrants who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border to stash houses in cities like Phoenix, El Paso, and Albuquerque, where they would extort money from the victims' families by threatening to return them to Mexico or harm them. Law enforcement discovered 57 migrants in one stash house in Albuquerque, indicating a significant operation. Palma and Sauceda reportedly kept large sums of cash and firearms at their residences, further demonstrating their criminal enterprise. The kidnappings involved direct threats, with one victim being told to pay $1,500 for his release, highlighting the dangerous tactics employed by the accused. Sauceda's arrest followed a failed ransom attempt at a Jack in the Box parking lot, where he locked a victim inside a car while demanding payment from the victim's family. As he was being pulled over by law enforcement, he attempted to hide over $9,000 in cash and receipts related to money transfers, indicating the scale of their operation. If convicted, both men face severe penalties, including a potential life sentence. The case underscores the exploitation of vulnerable migrants and the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat such criminal activities, with the FBI actively seeking information on Sauceda's whereabouts.