U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has filed an immigration detainer against Victor Villalba-Bustamante, a 41-year-old Mexican national, who was apprehended by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Sanford Police Department on April 9. Villalba-Bustamante was discovered in a hotel room with a 14-year-old girl who had been reported missing.
The charges against him include two counts of statutory rape, child abduction, felony conspiracy to commit abduction, second-degree kidnapping, and solicitation of a minor by computer. The teenager had been reported missing after she did not return home from school.
Although Villalba-Bustamante has no previous criminal record, ICE Homeland Security Investigations swiftly lodged a detainer due to the serious nature of the charges to ensure he stays in custody.
"The safety and protection of children is one of our top priorities," stated ICE HSI Special Agent in Charge Charlotte Cardell T. Morant, responsible for 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."
ICE HSI Raleigh is conducting the ongoing investigation in collaboration with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the Sanford Police Department, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, and other state and local partners. Further details will not be disclosed at this time.
