Nearly 200 new cases related to immigration and border security have been filed in the Southern District of Texas over the past week, according to U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Among these, nearly 100 individuals face charges for illegally re-entering the United States, many with prior felony convictions such as narcotics offenses and violent crimes. Over 80 are charged with illegal entry, while 12 cases involve human smuggling.
A notable case involves an indictment against a dozen individuals accused of assaulting officers at the East Hidalgo Detention Center in La Villa. If convicted, they could face up to eight years in federal prison.
Additionally, two bakery owners from South Texas have been indicted for harboring illegal aliens. During a worksite enforcement action on February 12 at Abby’s Bakery and Dulce’s Café, law enforcement identified several employees without legal work authorization.
Several sentences were handed down this week for border-related crimes. Marvin Reyes was sentenced to 108 months in prison for leading an organization that smuggled aliens through Corpus Christi and other locations. His operation included coordinating movements through Border Patrol checkpoints and arranging private flights from Weslaco to Houston.
Joe Adam Escobedo received a 69-month sentence after smuggling dozens of people into the United States on two occasions in 2024 using a tractor trailer. Carlos Del Angel Bocanegra was sentenced to 24 months for attempting to smuggle an illegal alien further into the country after fleeing authorities near Kingsville.
Jesus Alberto Castro-Garza will serve 106 months in federal prison following his third illegal re-entry into the United States since being first removed in 2019.
The Southern District of Texas prioritizes public safety and border security under its current leadership. The district covers a vast area with over nine million residents across 43 counties. Assistant U.S. Attorneys collaborate with law enforcement partners at various levels to prosecute federal crimes effectively.
An indictment is merely an accusation, not evidence of guilt; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty through due process.
