Colombian National Extradited to the United States to Face Charges for Encouraging and Inducing Aliens to Come to the United States

A Colombian citizen was extradited from Colombia to the United States today to face a four-count federal indictment in the Southern District of Florida for encouraging and inducing aliens to come to the United States.

Acting U.S. Attorney Benjamin G. Greenberg of the Southern District of Florida, Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Blanco of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Special Agent in Charge Mark Selby U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Miami, made the announcement.

Carlos Emilio Ibarguen Palacios, 26, is charged along with three other defendants in a Jan. 6, 2017, indictment with one count of conspiracy to encourage and induce aliens to come to the United States as well as three counts of encouraging and inducing aliens to come to the United States. The indictment alleges that in at least one instance, the defendant’s conduct resulted in the death of two individuals.

This case is being investigated by HSI Miami, with assistance from the HSI Bogota field office. The government of Colombia, including the Colombian Office of the Attorney General, provided significant assistance and support during the investigation. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs provided significant support with the defendant’s extradition.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Dobbins of the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Danielle Hickman of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section.

The charges and allegations in the indictment are merely accusations. A defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.