Vance Police Charge Two With Human Trafficking For Alleged Immigration Scam

VANCE, AL — The Vance Police Department arrested two people this week on human trafficking charges after an investigation uncovered evidence of multiple victims in a potentially ongoing immigration scam.

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According to a deposition obtained by Tuscaloosa Patch, Alex Francisco Ramirez recruited a man from Guatemala and coordinated his illegal entry into the country on Jan. 1, 2022, before extorting him for money for over two years.

Ramirez and a second suspect, Sarabia Reyes, have both been charged with human trafficking and have since been released from the Tuscaloosa County Jail after posting bond.

However, Vance Police Chief Tommy Graham confirmed to Patch that Ramirez and Reyes had since been taken into custody by federal immigration authorities.

As for the offenses, the court document says Ramirez subjected the man to "forced servitude that has financially benefitted him" after allegedly providing the man with a fraudulent California identification card.

Ramirez also reportedly secured the man a job at Kykenkee — a lumber supplier in Vance — under a false or stolen social security number.

From there, police say Ramirez then forced the man to cash his paycheck weekly at the El Sabor Latina store in Vance or face deportation.

Ramirez's listed address is an apartment on Old Stagecoach Road in Woodstock and El Sabor Latina is mentioned as his employer.

The deposition says the victim also turned over his W-2s to Ramirez, who is accused of withholding the man's official Guatemalan documents — such as his passport, identification card and birth certificate —and weekly payments from Kykenkee.

VPD says withholding these documents allowed Ramirez to force compliance to receive his weekly payments, allegedly deceiving the man into believing that he and another individual had a $84,000 loan debt with Elite Financial Services that must be paid.

Investigators found no such loan exists, before saying the man paid Ramirez $17,015.50 from Jan. 1, 2022 through May 3, 2024.

The Vance Police Department also believes there may be additional victims and suspects involved in the operation.

Investigators ask that those with any additional information contact the VPD at (205) 553-8278.

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