Nicholas J. Ganjei United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas
A 32-year-old Mexican national has been sentenced to federal prison for charges related to human smuggling, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. The individual, identified as Allan Eduardo Mar-Uballe, has been ordered to serve a 37-month prison term followed by three years of supervised release. Mar-Uballe, who illegally resided in Roma, Texas, entered a guilty plea on December 12, 2024.
Judge Drew B. Tipton of the U.S. District Court imposed the sentence, and it is expected that Mar-Uballe, who is not a U.S. citizen, will face removal proceedings after serving his sentence. Mar-Uballe's legal record includes previous convictions for illegal reentry, assault on a federal officer, and possession of a controlled substance.
U.S. Attorney Ganjei remarked, "Mr. Mar-Uballe’s prior convictions obviously did not dissuade him from engaging in dangerous criminal activity. His actions put the lives of law enforcement, innocent motorists, and every person in his vehicle at risk that day. Hopefully his new stay in federal prison will give him time to learn the lessons his earlier convictions didn’t teach him."
The smuggling incident in question occurred on October 22, 2024, when Mar-Uballe was apprehended driving a Ford Expedition near Roma. The vehicle, which had its back seats and seatbelts removed, contained 18 undocumented individuals, including two unaccompanied minors.
Efforts to stop Mar-Uballe's vehicle resulted in him attempting to evade authorities at high speeds, leading to erratic driving through Roma streets and an eventual crash into a ditch. This incident resulted in injuries to several vehicle occupants.
The individuals in the vehicle, including Mar-Uballe, were found to be in the United States illegally, hailing from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and the Dominican Republic. Mar-Uballe remains in custody as he awaits transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.
The investigation was led by Border Patrol with prosecution handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda McColgan. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative focused on combating illegal immigration and dismantling criminal organizations.
