DPS and Border Patrol Rescue Victims from Stash House

WESLACO – Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers and U.S. Border Patrol agents together helped rescue seven people, including two pregnant women, from a suspected illegal alien smuggling stash house in Starr County, where they were allegedly being held against their will. A 32-year-old suspect at the residence has been charged with unlawful restraint, a state jail felony, in connection with the incident, which occurred early Sunday morning.

U.S. Border Patrol agents and DPS observed suspicious activity at the Roma-area residence near the Rio Grande River. The doors of the residence were padlocked, and the occupants were found in a small room with poor ventilation.

The suspect, Teodulo Villalobos Garcia of Roma, was transported and booked into the Starr County Jail.  The suspect also faces an additional charge of felony possession of a controlled substance for a substance believed to be synthetic marijuana. The case remains under investigation, and no additional information is available at this time.

The four men and three women were released to U.S. Border Patrol. For any additional information on the rescued individuals, please contact the U.S. Border Patrol.