Two men are facing federal charges for allegedly harboring illegal aliens following a kidnapping and human smuggling investigation in Albuquerque. isaiah David Jose and Tomas Mateo Gaspar were indicted after authorities discovered a stash house containing 11 undocumented immigrants.

According to court documents, the investigation began on March 1, 2025, when a complainant reported to the FBI that their spouse had been kidnapped and was being held for ransom. The kidnappers demanded 90,000 quetzales (approximately $11,600) and threatened to hand the victim over to the Zeta Cartel if the ransom wasn’t paid. The family received “Proof of life” videos as part of the extortion.

FBI agents used phone data from the ransom calls to locate a residence in southwest Albuquerque. On March 2, a search warrant was executed, leading to the discovery of the 11 undocumented immigrants, including an unaccompanied minor. The residence, described as sparsely furnished, contained over 20 cell phones and a ledger detailing smuggling activities.

Victims reported being locked in rooms and threatened with violence or being turned over to criminal organizations if they spoke to law enforcement. Jose and Gaspar were identified as the individuals running the stash house and creating the ransom videos.

Legal Proceedings and Potential Penalties

Victims said they were locked in rooms,threatened with violence or being turned over to criminal organizations.

Jose and Gaspar have been indicted on charges of harboring an illegal alien and aiding and abetting. They will remain in custody until their trial, which is scheduled for August 11, 2025. If convicted, each man faces up to five years in prison.

U.S. Attorney ryan Ellison and Philip russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced the charges. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney paul Mysliwiec as part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations.