An El Paso man has been charged in connection with an alleged alien smuggling operation after federal agents found a stash house containing sixteen undocumented individuals, according to a March 23 announcement by authorities.
The case is significant as it highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address human smuggling activities along the U.S.-Mexico border. The investigation began when Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Border Patrol agents responded to a failed attempt to smuggle nineteen undocumented individuals through the Las Cruces Border Patrol Checkpoint on Interstate 25.
Court records show that, following interviews and investigative work, agents identified a suspected stash house at a residence in El Paso, Texas. On February 26, agents executed a search warrant at the location and encountered approximately sixteen undocumented individuals inside. All of them stated they were not citizens of the United States and did not have lawful immigration documents. They were transported to the El Paso Border Patrol Station for processing.
During subsequent interviews, two material witnesses identified Crescencio Pacheco Olvera, age 37, as both the caretaker of the stash house and as a transport driver involved in moving people connected with the operation. One witness said that after entering the United States illegally through a hole cut in the international border fence near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, they were taken to the El Paso residence by Pacheco Olvera.
Pacheco Olvera faces charges of conspiracy to harbor, transport, and bring in undocumented individuals. He will remain in custody pending trial; if convicted on this charge he could face up to ten years in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Taekuk Cho of Homeland Security Investigations El Paso announced these developments. HSI Las Cruces investigated with assistance from U.S. Border Patrol; Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanisha V. Henson is prosecuting.
Authorities emphasized that "a criminal complaint is merely an allegation" and that "all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law."
