Four Alleged Sex Offenders in Indiana Sting Identified as Illegal Immigrants
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that four of the 11 individuals arrested in a police sting operation targeting alleged sex offenders were undocumented immigrants from four different countries.
Four of the 11 individuals arrested in an Indiana sting operation targeting alleged sex offenders are illegal immigrants from four different countries, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed. The operation, which involved undercover detectives, aimed to apprehend individuals who believed they were communicating with underage girls online and were planning to meet them for sexual encounters.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued detainer requests for the four suspects. These individuals have been identified as El Hadji Babacar Ndiaye, a Senegalese citizen who was reportedly released at the southern border in September 2023; Lucky Philip Udoudo, a Nigerian citizen who entered the U.S. as a got-away; Filomeno Ricardo Flores Marin, a Mexican citizen who entered the U.S. illegally in 2002; and David Josue Gomez-Posada, a Salvadoran citizen who entered the U.S. illegally in 2017 as a juvenile.
DHS urged Indiana authorities to honor the immigration detainers. A DHS spokesperson stated, "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."
Filomeno Ricardo Flores Marin is facing charges including two counts of sex offenses, molestation of a minor, and enticement of a minor for indecent purposes. His record also includes a prior arrest for stolen property. He was previously arrested by ICE in January 2019, while assisting the Drug Enforcement Administration in an operation, and was subsequently released on bond in March 2019.
Lucky Philip Udoudo is charged with child solicitation and sexual misconduct with a minor. David Josue Gomez-Posada is charged with child solicitation, and El Hadji Babacar Ndiaye is charged with child solicitation.
DHS highlighted that partnerships with law enforcement are crucial for combating crime and apprehending undocumented immigrants, citing that seven of the top 10 safest cities in the U.S. cooperate with ICE. The agency also noted 40,000 arrests made in Florida and a two-week operation in West Virginia that resulted in the apprehension of 650 illegal immigrants.