SUNLAND PARK, NM – Two brothers are facing federal charges after allegedly holding two individuals captive and demanding a ransom for their release. Saul Castorena, 41, and Steven Castorena, 40, both of Sunland Park, New Mexico, are accused of conspiring to take hostages between January 15th and 18th, 2023, according to a second superseding indictment unsealed today.
The indictment alleges the Castorena brothers detained the victims – identified as individuals who had illegally entered the United States – and threatened to kill or injure them unless a ransom was paid. Federal prosecutors claim the brothers knowingly exploited the victims’ precarious legal status for financial gain. The exact amount of the ransom demand hasn’t been disclosed.
Adding to the severity of the charges, Saul Castorena is also accused of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. He allegedly possessed a shotgun with a barrel less than 18 inches, unregistered with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Court records show Saul Castorena has a prior conviction for conspiracy to transport aliens for financial gain and transporting aliens for financial gain.
The investigation, a joint effort between Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), revealed the Castorena brothers also allegedly conspired to harbor illegal aliens and were found to have harbored two individuals in violation of federal law. The pair remain in custody pending their trial, currently scheduled for February 26, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez for the District of New Mexico and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason T. Stevens of Homeland Security Investigations, El Paso, announced the indictment. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Randy Castellano and Devon Aragon Martinez are leading the prosecution. Both Saul and Steven Castorena face up to life in prison if convicted on all counts.
The indictment serves as an allegation only. Both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This case highlights the intersection of human smuggling, firearms violations, and violent crime along the US-Mexico border, a region consistently plagued by criminal activity. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Human Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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