Alamo man guilty of smuggling illegal aliens

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 62-year-old Alamo resident has admitted he illegally transported two Mexican citizens in a tractor-trailer, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Lazaro Rosendo Vega drove to the Falfurrias Border Patrol checkpoint in a maroon tractor-trailer May 30. At primary inspection, authorities noticed him sitting unusually high in his seat and acting abnormally loud and excited. When asked what he was hauling, he claimed “avocados loaded about two hours ago.”

A subsequent x-ray scan revealed two illegal aliens hidden under blankets on the top bunk of the sleeper cab. Both were citizens of Mexico. Vega claimed he was unaware of the two men hiding just feet behind him.  

As part of his plea, Vega acknowledged one of the illegal aliens had claimed to have entered the United States about a month earlier, was led to a warehouse and later placed in Vega’s tractor-trailer. He had paid $9,000 to be smuggled into Fort Worth and was hidden inside the cab with another man for extended periods before the truck continued north.

Vega had blocked the dash camera view before picking up the aliens. 

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos accepted the plea and set sentencing for Dec. 10, at which time Vega faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Vega was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Izaak Bruce and Patrick Overman are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.