Federal investigators say they have dismantled a migrant smuggling ring operated by soldiers stationed at Fort Cavazos, Texas. According to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), three active-duty U.S. service members played key roles in the illicit operation.
The soldiers, who had sworn an oath to protect and defend the United States, are accused of exploiting their positions to facilitate the smuggling of undocumented migrants from Mexico and Guatemala.
As Breitbart reports:
HSI agents arrested the soldiers Emilio Mendoza Lopez, Angel Palma, and Enrique Jauregui, who now face a federal criminal charge of bringing in and harboring aliens. Two of the defendants face an additional charge of assaulting a federal agent, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas announced Wednesday.
The investigation commenced after Border Patrol agents in Presidio, Texas, stopped a suspicious vehicle on November 27. According to law enforcement authorities, the vehicle fled as the Border Patrol agents approached the passenger side to interview the occupants. As the vehicle fled, a collision occurred between the suspect vehicle and a second Border Patrol vehicle, causing injury to an agent inside.
According to the filed criminal complaint, Presidio County deputies and officers with the Presidio Police Department eventually stopped the vehicle. They apprehended four people. Three of the occupants were found to be migrants illegally present in the United States—one Mexican national and two Guatemalan nationals. Authorities identified the fourth individual as Emilio Mendoza Lopez, who claimed to be the front-seat passenger in the vehicle. Mendoza was later identified as a U.S. Army soldier stationed at Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood).
The driver, alleged to be Army Soldier Angel Palma, fled on foot and was located by authorities the following day at a hotel in Odessa. Investigators examined data extracted from Angel Palma’s phone through a search warrant. They discovered messages between three soldiers that revealed the collaboration in the smuggling operation the Fort Cavazos soldiers were a part of. Presidio, Texas, is nearly 500 miles from the soldier’s duty station.
Based on the information revealed through an examination of Palma’s cell phone, Jauregui was the alleged recruiter and facilitator of the scheme.
A federal judge will determine the sentence in accordance with U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal factors, U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas stated.
Meanwhile, HSI, U.S. Border Patrol and the Army Criminal Investigation Division are continuing their investigation.
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These ‘soldiers’ should not only face civilian criminal charges but appropriate penalties under the Uniform Code of Military Justice as well. Unless they cop out you can bet that this was not an isolated incident. Make a graphic example of them and it might put a dent in the illegal people smuggling.
A bit more info on their backgrounds is also in order – are they anchor babies or perhaps daca recipients?
Smuggling for Pay
Cartels
Bribes
Extortion
Or base command IN ON trade, is this nationwide
hope they enjoy their long stay at Fort Leavenworth the military of the USA needs a complete overhaul TOP to Bottom hopefully Pete Hegseth will clean this mess up MAGA ASAP