Human trafficking case follows traffic stop in Nelson County

On October 1, 2024By Rgal Nv

NELSON COUNTY, N.D. (Valley News Live) – A traffic stop in Nelson County led deputies and Border Patrol to a human trafficking operation this weekend.

On Saturday, September 28, a vehicle with Illinois registration was stopped on Highway 2 near mile marker 303 in Nelson County. A Nelson County sheriff’s deputy said the vehicle was going 88 in a 70 mph zone.

The deputy claims the vehicle was driven by Renaldo Rafael-Mendoza. He did not have a valid driver’s license, according to court documents. He allegedly told the deputy that the woman in the vehicle was his wife, which the deputy said is not true. The woman was identified as Petrona Manzur and a man in the vehicle was identified as José Sotelo Sánchez.

The deputy said he could smell alcohol on the driver. Inside the vehicle, court documents say there was a machete hidden under the back seat, open containers of alcohol, a bag of “powdery substance,” marijuana paraphernalia, a fake Social Security card and a fake identity document.

Border Patrol discovered that the three individuals were in the United States illegally and detained them on several charges. Rafael-Mendoza is charged with DUI, forgery and illegal use of license. Manzur is charged with forgery, carrying a concealed weapon and illegal use of a license. The case against Sanchez was dismissed by the state.

During the interrogation, court documents say it was discovered the three men were driving to the Lake Metigoshe area, where they had a hotel room filled with illegal aliens they were supposed to pick up and bring to Illinois.

According to documents, 5 to 6 people were apprehended at the Quilt Inn in Bottineau. The matter is still under investigation.