Chugiak Man Charged with Smuggling Girl and Mother from Honduras

Douglas Price, a registered sex offender, allegedly paid $5,000 to bring the girl and her mother across the U.S.-Mexico border.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 4:55pm

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Federal prosecutors have charged Douglas Price, a 43-year-old man from Chugiak, Alaska, with conspiracy to bring a person into the country illegally. Price is accused of using funds from his construction company, Black Bear Construction, to pay smugglers to get a Honduran girl and her mother across the U.S. border with Texas. The girl and her mother were taken into custody after crossing the Rio Grande River.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing issue of human smuggling and the exploitation of vulnerable migrants seeking to enter the United States. It also raises concerns about the criminal activities of registered sex offenders and their potential to prey on minors.

The details

According to court documents, Price used his construction company to send approximately $5,000 through a payment transfer app to smugglers who helped the girl and her mother travel from Honduras through Mexico to the U.S. border. The girl told investigators that Price had promised to sponsor her U.S. citizenship once she arrived. The mother said she had previously worked as Price's housekeeper and babysitter.

  • On January 16, the unaccompanied girl crossed the Rio Grande River and was taken into custody by U.S. Border Patrol.
  • Six days later, on January 22, the girl's mother was also taken into custody as she tried to cross the Rio Grande.

The players

Douglas Price

A 43-year-old man from Chugiak, Alaska, who is a registered sex offender and the owner of Black Bear Construction, a construction company.

The Honduran Girl

A girl born in 2011 who crossed the Rio Grande River and was taken into custody by U.S. Border Patrol.

The Honduran Mother

The mother of the Honduran girl, who was also taken into custody as she tried to cross the Rio Grande River.

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What they’re saying

“She reported that she had also been his housekeeper and babysat his children.”

— The Honduran Mother

What’s next

Price is being held at the Anchorage jail, and the judge will decide on whether to allow him out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing issue of human smuggling and the exploitation of vulnerable migrants, as well as the potential for registered sex offenders to prey on minors. It underscores the need for stronger border security and more robust measures to protect children and families seeking to enter the United States.