An Albuquerque couple, Nan Zhang and Sanjay Khurana, have been indicted on charges of conspiring to harbor illegal aliens and laundering proceeds believed to be from human smuggling operations through real estate transactions. According to court records, between March 2023 and July 2025, the couple allegedly worked with human smugglers by renting out several properties in Albuquerque that served as stash houses for individuals brought unlawfully into the United States.
The indictment lists four specific properties involved: an eight-unit apartment complex at 919–923 Alvarado Dr. SE, a six-unit complex at 529–535 Utah St. NE, a three-story townhouse at 4505 Villa Loma Ln. NE, and another six-unit complex at 1033–1037 Alvarado Dr. SE. Authorities allege that Zhang and Khurana charged higher rents for units used to harbor undocumented individuals and warned their co-conspirators about law enforcement activity. The indictment also claims they continued leasing apartments for this purpose even after authorities discovered undocumented people on site. In one incident, police responding to a shooting found 12 undocumented individuals hidden inside one of the stash houses.
Starting in late 2024, Zhang and Khurana are accused of conspiring to launder money they believed was from human smuggling by offering to sell real estate for large cash payments while structuring deals to avoid financial reporting requirements. Court documents state that they offered to use third-party names and falsify sale records as part of these transactions.
“This case exposes the dangerous lengths to which some will go to profit from human suffering,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison. “Turning homes into hideouts for smuggling operations and disguising illicit profits through real estate transactions not only fuels crime but endangers our communities. By targeting criminal enterprises that exploit our city’s neighborhoods and real estate market, we are cutting off the infrastructure these smugglers rely on to operate.”
“Human smugglers prey on the vulnerable and exploit them for profit, showing complete disregard for human life,” said Jason T. Stevens, Special Agent in Charge of HSI El Paso. “This case demonstrates our unwavering commitment to dismantle these dangerous networks, protect our communities from harm, and ensure that those who enable or profit from these crimes are brought to justice.”
“The FBI remains steadfast in our commitment to defend our homeland. By leveraging our Safe Street and Transnational Organized Crime Task Forces, we were able to combat the influence and reach of these organized crime groups,” said Philip Russell Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Albuquerque Field Office. “We are grateful for our partnerships with HSI, IRS, and APD as we fight to eliminate the transnational organized crime groups that threaten the national and economic security of the United States.”
Zhang and Khurana face charges including conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conducting unlawful financial transactions. If convicted, they could lose their properties through forfeiture and face up to 20 years in prison.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Trembley and Patrick E. Cordova are prosecuting this case under Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), which targets cartels and transnational criminal organizations involved in human smuggling across Mexico, Central America, Panama, Colombia, as well as within U.S borders along the southwest border region. JTFA has led efforts resulting in hundreds of arrests both domestically and internationally related to alien smuggling operations.
An indictment is an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
