Sun-News report
Posted: 03/20/2012 02:55:54 PM MDT

LAS CRUCES — U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales announced that Elina Sihombing, 47, and David Girle, 55, both of Las Cruces, entered guilty pleas earlier today to an information charging them with two misdemeanor counts of aiding and abetting an undocumented alien to elude examination or inspection under plea agreements with the U.S. Attorney's Office. At sentencing, Sihombing and Girle could receive up to six months of imprisonment. The defendants remain out of custody on $25,000 secured bonds pending their sentencing hearings, which have not yet been scheduled.

Sihombing and Girle, who were arrested on May 23, 2011, admitted during their plea hearings that they provided lodging, food and other resources to two Indonesian women to help the women avoid detection by immigration officials. Sihombing and Girle admitted to housing one of the women from March 25, 2007, to January 10, 2010, and the other woman from December 2, 2008, to January 10, 2010, at the couple's motel, America's Best Value Inn on Picacho in Las Cruces. At the time, the two Indonesian women were illegally present in the United States.

Under their plea agreements, Sihombing and Girle agreed to pay $7,800 in restitution to the two Indonesian women; each defendant also is required to a $1,000 fine. The United States agreed to dismiss the Aug. 17, 2011, indictment against the defendants at sentencing. The indictment charged Sihombing and Girle with two felony counts of harboring illegal aliens.

The investigation was initiated by the FBI in Las Cruces and the New Mexico Attorney General's Office. The investigation received assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the Las Cruces Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Cárdenas Jarvis in conjunction with the New Mexico Attorney General's Office.

Las Cruces motel owners plead guilty to aiding, abetting undocumented immigrants - Las Cruces Sun-News