Three soldiers from Fort Cavazos, located near Killeen, Texas, have been arrested on criminal charges related to their involvement in a conspiracy to smuggle undocumented noncitizens into the United States, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Texas announced today.
The arrests stem from a vehicle stop by a U.S. Border Patrol agent in Presidio on November 27, where the driver of the vehicle fled and struck a second Border Patrol vehicle, injuring an agent. The vehicle was eventually stopped by local law enforcement, and four individuals were apprehended. Among the detainees were three undocumented noncitizens—one Mexican national and two Guatemalan nationals—and Emilio Mendoza Lopez, who claimed to be the front-seat passenger.
The driver, identified as Angel Palma, fled on foot and was apprehended the next day at a hotel in Odessa. Investigators allege that Mendoza Lopez and Palma traveled from Fort Cavazos to Presidio to pick up and transport undocumented individuals. Enrique Jauregui, another individual involved, is accused of recruiting and facilitating the human smuggling operation.
Phone data from Palma’s phone, extracted under a search warrant, revealed messages indicating the coordination of the smuggling activities between the three individuals.
Mendoza Lopez made his initial appearance in court on December 2 and is charged with one count of bringing in and harboring individuals without proper documentation. Palma and Jauregui were arrested at Fort Cavazos on December 3, and both are facing charges of smuggling individuals into the U.S. and assaulting a federal agent. Their initial hearings are scheduled for December 6 in Waco.
This case highlights the ongoing challenge of human smuggling operations at the U.S.-Mexico border, involving military personnel allegedly complicit in the illegal activity.