HSI investigation results in New Mexico man charged with coercion, trafficking, transportation of minors

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — An Alamogordo, New Mexico man made an initial appearance in federal court Monday on a criminal complaint charging him with coercion and enticement of minors, sex trafficking of children and transportation of minors.

Homeland Security Investigations, commonly called HSI, investigated this case with assistance from the Alamogordo Police Department.

Alfonso Salcido Herrera Jr., 45, will remain in custody pending a preliminary and detention hearing scheduled for Dec. 20.

According to the complaint, beginning in 2018 and continuing into 2022, Herrera allegedly groomed and sexually abused at least four children who were between nine and 13 years old at the time of the abuse. Herrera allegedly used gifts such as vape pens, alcohol, sex toys and travel to coerce and entice the minor victims to engage in sexual acts with him. On various occasions, Herrera allegedly transported the victims from New Mexico into Texas and back to engage in sexual activities.

A criminal complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. If convicted, Herrera faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to life in prison.

Assistant United States Attorneys Joni Autrey Stahl and Matilda McCarthy Villalobos are prosecuting the case.

Learn more about HSI’s mission to combat child exploitation in your community on Twitter @HSIElPaso.

Project Safe Childhood

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States attorneys' offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc and click the “Resources” tab.

Homeland Security Investigations

HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of over 10,400 employees consists of more than 6,800 special agents assigned to 225 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents the Department of Homeland Security’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.