Federal Bureau of Investigation
4200 Luecking Park Ave NE
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87107
Phone: (505) 889-1300
FAX: (505) 889-1769

Released by/Refer Inquires to:
William A. Elwell
Special Agent – Media Representative
(505) 889-1660

Thomas C. McClenaghan/Special Agent In Charge
Scott O’Neal/Assistant Special Agent In Charge
Robert Evans/Assistant Special Agent In Charge

Thomas C. McClenaghan, Special Agent in Charge of the Albuquerque Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced that on January 19, 2007, the Las Cruces Police Department (LCPD) had received $197,646.34 in Federal Bureau of Investigation Asset Forfeiture funds. The $197,646.34 was the fourth and final distribution of FBI Asset Forfeiture funds received by the LCPD in connection with their participation in a 2005 Kidnapping/Narcotics investigation involving Juan Carlos Sanchez-Solis and other co-conspirators. A total of $547,840.15 in FBI Asset Forfeiture funds have been awarded to the LCPD, within the past 3 months, as a result of the department’s direct participation in the investigation.

The investigation began on March 24, 2005 when the El Paso Police Department received a complaint call from one Manuel Avilez alleging that he, his girlfriend and two children had been carjacked at gunpoint from the parking lot of the Howard Johnson Hotel located in El Paso, Texas. Avilez, who was driving a green 1997 Ford Club Wagon, was accompanied by Juan Carlos Sanchez-Solis, Sanchez-Solis spouse, and their small child. According to Avilez, the carjacking was engineered by three unknown Hispanic males wearing dark clothing with bandanas covering their faces. Avilez added that he and his family complied with the demands of the carjackers and exited the vehicle but that Sanchez-Solis and his family remained in the van and were believed to be kidnap victims of the carjackers.

Officers of the LCPD who were monitoring an Amber Alert initiated by the EPPD in regard to the carjacking/kidnapping investigation took a proactive approach and quickly began to monitor traffic along the I-25 and I-10 corridor in an attempt to determine if the suspect vehicle had fled into the Las Cruces, New Mexico area. Subsequent investigation by the LCPD and the FBI determined that Avilez and Sanchez-Solis had previously been involved in the transportation of currency generated from illicit narcotics transactions. Law enforcement investigation ultimately discovered that Sanchez-Solis and other co-conspirators had staged the carjacking/kidnapping in an effort to “rip off” Avilez who at the time was transporting $1,100,458.00 in illicit narcotics proceeds which were hidden in various secret compartments in the van.

Also compensated for their participation in the investigation was the El Paso Police Department as they received proceeds totaling $175,946.00.

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