Tango Blast gang members sentenced after leading law enforcement on multiple vehicle pursuits during smuggling attempts

LAREDO, Texas – Two Tango Blast members have been ordered to federal prison following their convictions of conspiring to transport illegal aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Juan Miguel Regalado, 28, and Samuel Grajeda Jr., 21, pleaded guilty Nov. 12, 2024.

U.S. District Judge John A. Kazen has now imposed a 66-month sentence for Regalado. Grajeda previously received a 30-month-term of imprisonment as well as a consecutive six months for violating his supervised release for a previous alien transporting conviction. Both must also serve three years of supervised release following their sentences.

The investigation began April 20, 2024, when a group of suspected illegal aliens entered a green Tahoe in the Mines Road area. Regalado was driving and soon led law enforcement on a high-speed chase, during which multiple individuals jumped out of the vehicle. Regalado drove up to 100 miles per hour before driving the Tahoe into the Rio Grande River. Regalado then swam across to Mexico.

Over the next several months, authorities continued to monitor the Mines Road area for other possible smuggling attempts. In November 2024, another group of illegal aliens entered a white Ford Taurus parked near Father McNaboe Park within the Mines Road area.

Authorities followed until a black Mercedes sedan cut them off. Grajeda and Regalado were the respective drivers. An attempted traffic stop of the Ford Taurus then led to another vehicle pursuit in which Grajeda crashed into an innocent bystander’s vehicle and continued to evade law enforcement. As it ended, law enforcement discovered four illegal aliens and the Ford Taurus abandoned in a north Laredo neighborhood.

Authorities then found Grajeda and Regalado within the vicinity of the abandoned vehicle and took them into custody.

As part of their guilty pleas, both admitted to their involvement in the conspiracy.

“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.”

Grajeda and Regalado will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined at in the near future.

Border Patrol-Anti-Smuggling Unit and Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa A. Lopez prosecuted the case.