Ex-Henderson detective accused of smuggling undocumented person into U.S.

A grand jury has indicted a former Henderson Police Department detective on four charges including smuggling an undocumented person into the country, the U.S. attorney’s office announced in a news release Friday.

Mitchell Wilson faces charges of encouraging and inducing illegal entry, bringing an alien into the U.S. other than at a designated port, transporting an illegal alien and harboring an illegal alien, federal court records show.

The indictment, which was returned on Oct. 21, stated that Wilson encouraged a person to illegally enter and reside in the country between October 2023 and December 30, 2024.’

“On December 30, 2024, Wilson transported the individual into the United States,” the news release said. “Once illegally in the United States, Wilson hid the individual from law enforcement detection in buildings and other places.”

“Individuals who knowingly facilitate unlawful entry into the United States and attempt to conceal others from law enforcement undermine the integrity of our immigration system,” said Jonathan Sherwin, deputy special agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations Las Vegas. “HSI Las Vegas remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate and hold accountable those who support illegal entry, transportation and harboring schemes.”

Wilson’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Homeland Security Investigations, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, and the Henderson Police Department investigated the case, the U.S. attorney’s office said in the news release.

The Henderson Police Department said in an email to the Las Vegas Review-Journal that Wilson was placed on administrative leave on May 24, 2025, and retired from the agency on July 11, 2025, while still under an internal affairs investigation.

A trial date has been set for Jan. 4, 2027, according to court records.

Contact Devan Patel at [email protected].