Alamdar Hamdani U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas
A South Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for smuggling dozens of people into the United States on two occasions, according to U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Joe Adam Escobedo, 31, pleaded guilty on September 26, 2024.
U.S. District Judge David Morales sentenced Escobedo to serve 57 months in each case concurrently and an additional 12 months consecutively, totaling 69 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. The court highlighted that Escobedo committed the second offense while out on bond for a similar charge involving seven illegal aliens.
"The Southern District of Texas will vigorously pursue alien smuggling cases, given the risk they pose both to the persons smuggled as well as the public at large," stated Ganjei. He noted the dangers associated with tractor-trailer smuggling due to confined spaces and unpredictable weather conditions in Texas.
On April 12, 2024, Escobedo approached the Falfurrias Border Patrol checkpoint driving a tractor-trailer he claimed was hauling pineapples to Michigan. After a K-9 alerted authorities, seven illegal aliens from El Salvador and Mexico were found hidden in the sleeper area of the tractor.
Escobedo was charged with alien smuggling but released on bond. On June 11, 2024, he drove a refrigerated tractor-trailer to the same checkpoint. Law enforcement observed signs of nervousness during primary inspection and referred him again for secondary inspection. Scans revealed anomalies in the trailer where agents discovered an additional 42 individuals from Ecuador, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Mexico illegally present in the United States.
Escobedo remains in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility yet to be determined. Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation with Assistant U.S. Attorney Yasmine K. Tucker prosecuting the case.
