A traffic stop by the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office has led to the arrest of Sergio Velasco, a 50-year-old man accused of human trafficking and residing in the United States illegally.
Court documents filed on Monday detail multiple charges against Velasco, including four counts of human trafficking, four counts of promotion of human trafficking, three counts of forgery, and several other offenses related to operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
The arrest occurred just after 9:45 p.m. on Sunday when a deputy pulled over a silver vehicle near N Martin Luther King Blvd. and W Wald Ave. for making an erratic lane change without signaling. During the stop, the deputy detected a strong odor of alcohol and discovered Velasco carrying a fraudulent government identification card. Field sobriety tests revealed a blood alcohol level of .086, slightly above the legal limit.
A search of Velasco uncovered nearly $20,000 in cash, primarily in $100 bills. When questioned, Velasco insisted he was not a drug dealer, explaining that the money came from individuals he had brought into the U.S. from Mexico.
He admitted to paying $13,500 per person for their transportation and placement in restaurant jobs in Muncie, Anderson, and Indianapolis. These individuals were housed at his residence for one night before being placed in employment. Velasco then collected payments from them to recover his costs, plus an interest fee of 5-8%.
When asked what would happen if they failed to pay, Velasco reportedly said they would be “talked to and told that they had to pay.” He also admitted to entering the U.S. through a similar arrangement 30 years ago and had never established legal citizenship. Authorities have stated that Velasco remains in custody without bond due to his immigration status.
