Mexican National Found Guilty of Transporting Undocumented Noncitizens Near Van Horn

PECOS – Today a federal jury convicted Pedro Ramirez-Urbina, 41, a Mexican national on one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens and one count of transportation of illegal aliens in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1324.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on June 27, 2021, U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Van Horn Border Patrol Station responded to a call from a concerned citizen about a deceased male found on the side of the road. Agents located the decedent along with another male waiting beside the body. Both undocumented noncitizens (UNCs) came from Mexico.

Approximately an hour later, another concerned citizen alerted U.S. Border Patrol agents to seven males walking north on Chispa Road near Needle Peak.  They were arrested and transported to Van Horn Border Patrol Station for processing where agents determined all UNCs, including the decedent, were part of a group being smuggled into the U.S. from Mexico. Ramirez was identified as the foot guide in charge of the group.

Sentencing is scheduled for March 29, 2022.  Ramirez has remained in federal custody since his arrest on June 27, 2021

U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Special Agent in Charge Taekuk Cho made the announcement.

HSI is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lance Kennedy is prosecuting the case.

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