El Paso Standard

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has placed an immigration detainer on Victor Villalba-Bustamante, a 41-year-old Mexican national, following his arrest by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Sanford Police Department on April 9. Villalba-Bustamante was apprehended after being found with a 14-year-old girl in a hotel room. The girl had been reported missing when she did not return home from school.

Villalba-Bustamante faces multiple charges, including two counts of statutory rape, abduction of a child, felony conspiracy to commit abduction, second-degree kidnapping, and solicitation of a minor by computer. Despite having no prior criminal history, the seriousness of these charges led ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to lodge a detainer to keep him in custody.

“The safety and protection of children is one of our top priorities,” stated Charlotte Cardell T. Morant, ICE HSI Special Agent in Charge, overseeing North and South Carolina. "HSI and our law enforcement partners are working diligently to determine the full scope of this case, including any indicators of human trafficking or exploitation. We remain committed to holding accountable those who prey on vulnerable populations."

The investigation involves ICE HSI Raleigh, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the Sanford Police Department, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, among other state and local agencies. It is ongoing, and no further details are available at this moment.