Mexican Gang Member Caught Smuggling F-150 Full of Illegal Immigrants

 DEL RIO, TX – U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Carrizo Springs Station arrested six undocumented immigrants and a smuggler with extensive criminal and gang history during a failed smuggling attempt, June 27.

Border Patrol agents from the Carrizo Springs Station responded to a call regarding a possible smuggling attempt. Dimmit County Sherriff’s Deputies located a Ford F-150 pickup matching the description of the smuggling vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, however, the driver accelerated and attempted to flee. The driver drove through a local ranch fence and all subjects ran from the vehicle into the surrounding brush in an attempt to evade arrest. The driver of the vehicle, a 32-year-old Mexican national, along with six additional undocumented immigrants were located by agents and arrested. 

The driver, an active Paisas gang member, has extensive criminal history to include aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury, evading arrest, conspiracy to enter, transport or harbor aliens, indecent exposure, failure to identify giving false info, smuggling aliens and operating a vehicle while intoxicated.  

The six undocumented immigrants, all single adult males from Mexico, were processed per U.S. Customs and Border Protection guidelines. The smuggler faces a charge of 8 USC § 1324 – alien smuggling, which carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

All individuals apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol undergo criminal history checks utilizing multiple databases including the use of biometrics to ensure those with criminal history are positively identified regardless of their immigration status.

“This failed smuggling attempt highlights the importance of the partnerships between Del Rio Sector Border Patrol and its federal, state and local partners,” said Del Rio Sector Chief Patrol Agent Raul L. Ortiz. “Thanks to our agents and local law enforcement, this criminal has been taken off the streets and will no longer be a threat to our communities.”