United States Attorney David Metcalf announced the arrest and indictment of Bekhzod Rakhmatov, 30, from Maineville, Ohio, and Munis Khojiev, 31, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The two Tajik nationals are charged with attempting to bring an alien into the United States for financial gain and conspiring to smuggle aliens into the country for the same purpose.
The indictment accuses Rakhmatov and Khojiev of assisting in smuggling a co-conspirator into the U.S. This individual allegedly referred additional illegal aliens to them for further smuggling operations. Between December 2022 and May 2025, it is alleged that they collaborated with others to acquire visas and passports enabling illegal travel across various countries towards the U.S.-Mexico border. They are also accused of soliciting and receiving payments from or on behalf of these individuals for their services.
If convicted, each defendant could face up to 10 years in prison for each count.
The FBI conducted the investigation while Assistant United States Attorneys Danielle Bateman and Everett Witherell are handling prosecution. It is important to note that these charges are accusations at this stage, and both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
