Two immigrants were taken into custody in Harris County by ICE agents and the sheriff’s office for allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl on many occasions, according to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Immigrants arrested in Houston-area for rape of 12-year-old
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Felix Bustillo Diaz, 49, and Jose Gerber-Rivera, 45, are accused of sexually assaulting Bustillo’s 12-year-old grandniece, who was illegally smuggled to the United States from Honduras by her mother in 2014. Officials believe Bustillo left the young girl with him as her sponsor.
Bustillo was reportedly awarded Temporary Protected Status in 2024, but it has since been terminated.
Rivera was arrested on November 4 in The Woodlands. Bustillo had already been arrested by ICE for immigration violations at the Montgomery Processing Center when he was brought into custody by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office on November 5.
According to ICE, the 12-year-old was able to flee Bustillo at one point with the assistance of Houston-area residents Brenda Garcia, 38, and Tania Garcia, 37. The woman claimed to be rescuing the 12-year-old, but police say she was zip-tied, beaten, abused, and emaciated. ICE officials said she was forced to perform manual labor for the women.
Brenda and Tania were arrested on October 3 and charged with felony child injury, unlawful restraint, and invasive visual recording.
Law enforcement reaction to arrests
“The conduct uncovered in this investigation was both disturbing and inexcusable,” said HSI Houston Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz. “Our agents and partners worked tirelessly to ensure these individuals are brought to justice and held fully accountable for their crimes. HSI puts the safety and security of the victims as our highest priority.”
“Arresting violent people who seek to prey on our most vulnerable residents is our top priority, and the allegations in this case are especially disturbing,” said Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.
“The details of this investigation are deeply disturbing and represent some of the most evil criminal behavior in our society,” said Montgomery County Sheriff Wesley Doolittle. “While the child is now safe, our mission is far from over. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to uncover all details of this investigation and ensure that justice is served.”
This is an active and ongoing criminal investigation. To safeguard the child’s privacy and the case’s integrity, no further information will be released at this time. When new information becomes available, an update will be issued.
If you feel a minor is being sexually exploited, please report it to their local law enforcement or to HSI using their tipline at 1-866-DHS-2423. All information submitted via the tipline will be examined by relevant personnel and forwarded to HSI field offices for possible investigation.
