How ICE, Homeland Security helped Columbus police make sex and drug trafficking arrests
Two men were arrested Jan. 22 and charged with human and drug trafficking charges after a months-long investigation between the Columbus Police Department and federal authorities.
Now, CPD has provided extra details about the investigation that led to the arrests of Raul Reyes-Nepomuceno, 53, and Brandon Reyes-Escano, 23, on charges of trafficking of persons for labor or sexual servitude, trafficking methamphetamine, pimping and keeping a place of prostitution.
CPD Assistant Chief Lance Deaton said the case occurred after a complaint through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
As part of the investigation, authorities conducted search warrants on two locations, one on Clay Drive and the other on Lacey Oak Court.
The two arrested suspects have connections with each other and connections with each of the residences, according to Deaton.
Police found multiple items at the Clay Drive home including more than 100 condoms, a ledger, bottles of lubricant, vaginal cream, a variety of drugs like Rixtal and Zertalin, a Mexican passport and a box of lingerie, a news release from CPD said.
Deaton confirmed it is believed there was sexual activity due to human trafficking at the residences.
When asked how many victims have been identified in the case, Deaton said CPD will not release anything about the victims citing risk due to the suspects’ alleged affiliations with Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG).
The investigation is ongoing, and CPD believes there will be additional victims before the end of the investigation, according to Deaton. He asked for any possible victims to call CPD, 706-225-3205.
ICE’s part in the investigation
CPD previously said the investigation was led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and assisted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Deaton confirmed ICE agents were boots on the ground for the investigation. ICE was called in for assistance after the investigation revealed there were going to be issues involving people’s immigration statuses, according to Deaton.
“This case shows how we believe things ought to work between local law enforcement, state law enforcement and federal law enforcement to include ICE,” Deaton said.
Deaton said CPD previously worked with ICE, coming to Columbus with targeted approaches on people who have outstanding warrants including violent crimes warrants.
“We’re very fortunate because we have very good working relationships with not only ICE, and the NHSI, and the DEA, but all of our state and federal partners, where we have the ability to sit down at a table like this, talk about what the mission is, talk about what we’re trying to accomplish and make sure we’re all on the same page and then go out and execute,” he said. “And because of that, you haven’t seen or heard of the issues here that you have seen and heard in other places.”
When speaking about the investigation, Deaton said, “There are young women who are no longer being sex-trafficked, and now they’re safe today.”
Deaton said more arrests are possible as part of the ongoing investigation.