Nicholas J. Ganjei United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas
A significant number of cases related to immigration and border security were filed from May 9-15, as announced by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. The total reached 209 cases, including allegations against 78 individuals for illegally reentering the country. Many of these individuals have prior felony convictions for crimes such as narcotics offenses, violent crime, sexual offenses, and previous immigration violations.
Among those charged are three individuals who allegedly attempted to reenter the United States unlawfully after recent removals. Honduran national Erick Nahun Orellana-Ramos and Mexican nationals Alejandro De La Vega-Loyola and Luis Cibrian-Gonzalez were removed in April and May but reportedly found again in the U.S.
Criminal complaints also mention Eleno Martin Velazquez-Hernandez and Edwin Vazquez-Perez, both with past convictions for sexual assault and previously removed from the country. Heriberto Garcia-Robles was similarly discovered near Mission following a prior removal due to an aggravated assault conviction.
Additionally, two members of the Tango Blast gang received sentences for their roles in human smuggling operations. Eusebio Regalado was sentenced to 66 months, while Eric Grajeda received 36 months. Both had engaged law enforcement in vehicle pursuits during their smuggling attempts.
“With these sentencings, two less gang members are out on the streets, and a human smuggling operation has been dismantled,” said Ganjei. “Securing the border is the Southern District’s top priority, and we’re delivering.”
In Brownsville, Felix Raymundo Mora-Gonzalez was sentenced to 70 months for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). He was initially arrested for harboring illegal aliens when investigators discovered CSAM on his cell phone.
Hector Castillo-Molina faces sentencing after unlawful reentry into the U.S., having a criminal history that includes five felonies such as burglary and drug possession. The court expressed concern over his extensive record.
Eusebio Cavazos received a maximum sentence of 60 months in Corpus Christi for smuggling illegal aliens from Central American countries in a tractor trailer.
In McAllen, Enrique Melendez-Saldivar was convicted after unlawfully reentering the U.S. eight times; he could face up to 20 years in federal prison.
Houston saw Emmanuel Padilla Reyes plead guilty to participating in a large-scale wire fraud conspiracy involving fraudulent Texas paper license plates. This allowed criminals to avoid detection while committing various crimes.
These cases were supported by federal law enforcement agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, among others at state and local levels.
The efforts fall under Operation Take Back America which aims to combat illegal immigration and transnational crime while ensuring community safety through collaboration across multiple government entities.
Under current leadership within SDTX — covering 43 counties — public safety remains a priority with enhanced enforcement measures yielding results against unlawful activities including human trafficking and violence-related crimes.
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