An Albuquerque couple, Nan Zhang and Sanjay Khurana, has been indicted for allegedly conspiring with human smugglers to use their rental properties as stash houses for individuals unlawfully brought into the United States. Court records state that between March 2023 and July 2025, Zhang, 44, and Khurana, 62—both naturalized U.S. citizens—rented out several properties in Albuquerque that were then used to harbor undocumented immigrants.
The indictment lists four specific locations involved: an eight-unit apartment complex at 919–923 Alvarado Dr. SE; a six-unit complex at 529–535 Utah St. NE; a three-story townhouse at 4505 Villa Loma Ln. NE; and a six-unit complex at 1033–1037 Alvarado Dr. SE. Authorities allege that Zhang and Khurana charged inflated rents for these units, warned co-conspirators about law enforcement activity, and continued leasing apartments even after police discovered undocumented individuals on site. In one incident described in court documents, officers responding to a shooting found twelve undocumented people hidden inside one of the properties.
In addition to the harboring allegations, beginning in late 2024 Zhang and Khurana are accused of conspiring to launder what they believed were proceeds from human smuggling by offering to sell real estate for large cash payments while structuring deals to avoid financial reporting requirements—including using third-party names and falsifying sale records.
“This case exposes the dangerous lengths to which some will go to profit from human suffering,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison. “Turning homes into hideouts for smuggling operations and disguising illicit profits through real estate transactions not only fuels crime but endangers our communities. By targeting criminal enterprises that exploit our city’s neighborhoods and real estate market, we are cutting off the infrastructure these smugglers rely on to operate.”
“Human smugglers prey on the vulnerable and exploit them for profit, showing complete disregard for human life,” said Jason T. Stevens, Special Agent in Charge of HSI El Paso. “This case demonstrates our unwavering commitment to dismantle these dangerous networks, protect our communities from harm, and ensure that those who enable or profit from these crimes are brought to justice.”
“The FBI remains steadfast in our commitment to defend our homeland. By leveraging our Safe Street and Transnational Organized Crime Task Forces, we were able to combat the influence and reach of these organized crime groups," said Philip Russell Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Albuquerque Field Office. "We are grateful for our partnerships with HSI, IRS, and APD as we fight to eliminate the transnational organized crime groups that threaten the national and economic security of the United States.”
Zhang and Khurana face charges including conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conducting unlawful financial transactions. If convicted on all counts they could face forfeiture of their properties as well as up to twenty years in prison.
The investigation was conducted jointly by Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation—with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Trembley and Patrick E. Cordova are prosecuting this case under Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA is a collaborative initiative involving agencies such as DHS designed specifically https://www.justice.gov/media/1289486/dl?inline= targeting cartels operating across Mexico as well as Central American countries like Guatemala or Honduras by coordinating prosecutions along border districts while supporting law enforcement with dedicated personnel drawn from various Justice Department sections focused on human rights violations or money laundering activities.
According to data provided by JTFA efforts so far have resulted in more than four hundred domestic or international arrests related directly back toward significant facilitators within alien smuggling operations—with over three hundred fifty convictions secured within U.S courts plus substantial assets seized via forfeiture proceedings.
An indictment is merely an allegation; all defendants remain presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.
