Jason M. Frierson U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada has announced its participation in National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, joining efforts with the Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Homeland Security (DHS) to address human trafficking crimes and support victims. The initiative seeks to strengthen coordination among federal, state, and local agencies to disrupt trafficking networks and protect vulnerable individuals.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated, “This Department of Justice is working tirelessly alongside our partners to dismantle human trafficking networks, help survivors, and protect vulnerable populations from being exploited. Under this administration we have seen an increase in human trafficking prosecutions, and during Human Trafficking Prevention Month we reaffirm our commitment to prosecuting traffickers and encourage Americans to report instances of human trafficking in their communities.”
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem commented on the government’s approach: “Through the Homeland Security Task Force, President Trump is taking the fight directly to human trafficking networks and disrupting their modern-day slave trade while seizing their assets and arresting their kingpins and foot soldiers. The American people should not have to live in fear of cartels, gang bangers, and foreign terrorists preying upon the most vulnerable among us. The Homeland Security Task Force is the largest coordinated campaign against transnational criminal organizations in U.S. history, and I’m proud to co-lead it with Attorney General Bondi.”
FBI Director Kash Patel added, “During Human Trafficking Prevention Month, the FBI reiterates our work with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and national victim-based advocacy groups in joint task forces to protect our communities across the country. The horrifying reach of human trafficking spreads far and wide. Homeland Security Task Forces are fighting back to disrupt these perilous networks and put a stop to that reach. The FBI will continue our investigations and bring justice to those exploited by human traffickers."
President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order 14159 in January 2025, directing the creation of Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTFs) across all states. These task forces aim to eliminate criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations involved in cross-border smuggling or trafficking—especially those affecting children—and use available law enforcement tools for immigration law enforcement.
Since January 20, 2025, several individuals have been charged with crimes related to human trafficking:
- Carlos Recinos-Valdez and Kevin Recinos-Ruano were charged for allegedly conspiring to harbor illegal aliens for financial gain through a network spanning Guatemala, Mexico, and the United States. Recinos-Valdez faces charges including conspiracy to harbor aliens; harboring illegal aliens; aiding attempted interference with commerce by extortion; aiding bringing illegal aliens; while Recinos-Ruano faces conspiracy charges.
- Rafael Juan Mitjans was indicted for allegedly subjecting three Cuban victims to forced labor by confiscating passports/IDs and making false statements on immigration documents.
Trials are scheduled for both cases later this year.
In January 2026 DHS and DOJ increased resources for anti-trafficking efforts by identifying ongoing investigations at multiple locations nationwide—including border states—coordinating with FBI squads on victim recovery operations; partnering with AMTRAK/FAMS on public awareness campaigns; distributing restitution from seized assets like Backpage funds; organizing seminars at schools via DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking.
On August 25, 2025 HSTF began a surge operation resulting in over 3,200 arrests within just over six weeks—targeting cartel members from Sinaloa (1,041), CJNG (856), MS-13 (641), Tren de Aragua (456)—and seizing more than $3 million in cash as well as significant quantities of weapons (1,067) and narcotics (91 metric tons).
