Houston, Texas (KTRK) – Police stated that there was an arrest warrant for a man wanted for aggravated kidnapping in connection with a human trafficking ring.
Zachary Espino, 23, faces an aggravated kidnapping charge. Another defendant, Francisco Cisneros, 27, was arrested over the weekend and charged with human trafficking.
“The allegations here are that Mr. Cisneros and co-representatives demanded that family members pay $10,000 for the smuggling,” a court hearing officer said Tuesday morning. “Mr. Cisneros allegedly guarded the door and told family members they had better come with the money or bad things would happen.”
According to court records, a witness told Houston police that his friend was being held against his will at an El Paseo apartment complex near the medical center. The smugglers wanted an initial payment of $3,500 sent to CashApp. The total payment was about $10,000, and the exchange was to take place at a nearby gas station on Knight Road.
Instead, the patrol officers and SWAT forces arrested Cisneros. Investigators said they also rescued two men.
Court records state that Cisneros, a Mexican national, appeared in court for the first time, and police issued warrants for the arrest of the man known as “Flaco”. Espino is believed to be Cisneros’ ring boss and is on the run after his home in Kingslake Forest was raided by police, where authorities believe he has hidden more people.
A man at the house said Wednesday night that the police found nothing.
Investigators believe that the two suspects recently smuggled dozens of people, and each time threatened them and their families if they did not pay up.
Cisneros’ bond is $20,000. The witness told the police that Espino was armed.
Anyone with information on Espino’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Houston Police Department homicide department or crime stoppers.
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