Nicholas J. Ganjei United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas
In a recent announcement, U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei revealed that 216 new cases related to immigration and border security were filed from April 11-17. Among these were 86 allegations involving individuals accused of illegally reentering the United States, many of whom had previous felony convictions for crimes like narcotics, firearms offenses, sexual offenses, or prior immigration crimes. An additional 119 individuals face charges of illegal entry, with 11 cases involving human smuggling.
Alejandro Contreras-Zapata, a Mexican national, is charged with felony reentry after being found near Roma. He had previously been sentenced to 20 years for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon before his removal on March 7. Erika Camacho-Rodriguez, also from Mexico, faces similar charges after being caught near Roma. She had been removed on March 31 following a conviction for transporting illegal aliens.
Another charge was laid against Cesar Garcia-Rivas, a Mexican male found near Rio Grande City. He had been removed on October 21, 2020, after serving a 70-month sentence for kidnapping. Meanwhile, three men apprehended near Laredo had been removed in the past five months, with allegations that Daniel Fimbres and Jose Alejandro Rodriguez-Panjol were removed on February 19 and 28, respectively, and Delfino Lopez-Roque on November 24, 2024.
These individuals and others could face up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted of illegally reentering the U.S. The past week also included a jury conviction of Salma Galilea Veliz, a 25-year-old Laredo woman, for conspiracy to transport and trying to bring a minor to the United States. Veliz aimed to have a child assume the identity of her biological son for smuggling purposes, with an agreed payment of $2,500.
Additionally, a known human smuggler, Jose Rodriguez Jr., was found guilty of possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) after a rapid jury deliberation. He was initially arrested in August 2024 for alien transportation, and subsequent investigations unveiled 150 CSAM images on his phone.
The week concluded with the indictment of two illegal aliens and a local man for firearms offenses. This was initiated by the discovery of a firearm linked to a crime on March 21. Searches revealed multiple weapons and ammunition. Erick Lopez Jr., an 18-year-old from Laredo, is charged with machine gun possession. Erick Lopez-Rivera Sr., 37, and Marcos Lora-Morales, 24, both illegally residing in Laredo, face charges related to firearm and ammunition possession. Lopez-Rivera Sr. faces additional charges for felony reentry.
Federal law enforcement agencies, such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, and more, supported these cases. This is part of Operation Take Back America, aimed at combating illegal immigration and protecting communities from violent crime. The initiative unites efforts from the Department of Justice and related organized crime task forces.
The Southern District of Texas, one of the nation's busiest jurisdictions, prioritizes public safety and border security. It encompasses 43 counties with over nine million residents. Assistant U.S. Attorneys across seven divisions, including Houston and Laredo, collaborate with federal, state, and local law enforcement on these and other federal cases.
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