Four of 11 men arrested in an Indiana undercover operation targeting alleged sex offenses are unauthorized immigrants, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Investigators said the suspects believed they were communicating online with underage girls before traveling to meet them. Instead, they encountered undercover detectives. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged detainer requests for all four men.

The suspects are citizens of Senegal, Nigeria, Mexico and El Salvador. Their criminal cases remain pending, and DHS said each man will receive due process through immigration proceedings.

The arrests have renewed attention on cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. DHS is asking Indiana officials to honor the detainers while the criminal and immigration cases proceed.

Article Subheadings

Indiana undercover operation leads to 11 arrests

Indiana police arrested 11 suspected sex offenders during an undercover sting operation. Authorities said the men believed they were exchanging messages with minors online and traveled to an arranged meeting location for what they thought would be sexual encounters. Undercover detectives met them instead. The operation focused on identifying people allegedly seeking sexual contact with children, although the article does not provide the date, location or final disposition of the broader operation.

Four suspects identified as unauthorized immigrants

DHS identified four of the 11 suspects as unauthorized immigrants from four countries. El Hadji Babacar Ndiaye is a Senegalese citizen who was caught and released at the southern border in Lukeville, Arizona, in September 2023. Lucky Philip Udoudo, a Nigerian citizen, allegedly entered the United States as a gotaway at an unknown time and location.

Filomeno Ricardo Flores Marin, a Mexican citizen, allegedly entered the country illegally in Arizona in 2002. David Josue Gomez-Posada, a Salvadoran citizen, allegedly entered illegally in 2017 as a juvenile. ICE has requested detainers for all four men.

Criminal charges vary among the four men

The charges differ by suspect. Flores Marin faces two counts of sex offenses, along with one count each of molestation of a minor and enticement of a minor for indecent purposes. His criminal history also includes a prior arrest involving stolen property.

Udoudo is charged with child solicitation and sexual misconduct with a minor. Gomez-Posada faces a child solicitation charge, while Ndiaye is also charged with child solicitation. The reported allegations are criminal accusations, and the defendants are entitled to legal proceedings before any finding of guilt.

Federal officials request cooperation on detainers

A DHS spokesperson called on Indiana authorities to honor the immigration detainers. The requests are intended to allow federal immigration officials to take custody of the four suspects after their local criminal proceedings or release, subject to applicable legal requirements.

“We are calling on Indiana to honor our detainers. All of their claims will be heard by an immigration judge, and they will receive due process. This administration will not ignore the rule of law.”

The agency also said cooperation between federal immigration officials and local law enforcement is important to combating crime. It cited enforcement activity in Florida and West Virginia as examples of broader immigration operations, but those actions were separate from the Indiana sting.

Cases remain subject to due process

The four men must address the Indiana criminal charges in court, while any immigration consequences will be decided through separate federal proceedings. Flores Marin was previously arrested by ICE on January 18, 2019, while assisting the Drug Enforcement Administration during an operation in Indianapolis. He was released on bond on March 7, 2019.

DHS said the administration would pursue consequences for people it describes as criminal unauthorized immigrants. However, the reported charges and immigration allegations do not by themselves establish guilt or determine the outcome of either the criminal cases or the detainer requests.

Key Points

Summary

The Indiana sting resulted in 11 arrests, including four men whom DHS identifies as unauthorized immigrants. The suspects face varying allegations involving minors, while ICE seeks custody through immigration detainers. The cases will proceed through the criminal justice system and, where applicable, immigration proceedings that must provide due process.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many suspects were arrested in the Indiana operation?

Authorities arrested 11 suspected sex offenders during the undercover operation.

How many of the suspects were identified as unauthorized immigrants?

DHS identified four of the 11 suspects as unauthorized immigrants from Senegal, Nigeria, Mexico and El Salvador.

What charges do the four men face?

The charges include child solicitation, sexual misconduct with a minor, molestation of a minor, enticement of a minor for indecent purposes and other reported sex offenses.

What action has ICE taken?

ICE has lodged detainer requests for the four suspects, and DHS is asking Indiana authorities to honor those requests.

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