Two Texans get substantial sentences for alien death

McALLEN, Texas — Two men have been ordered to federal prison following their conviction of transporting aliens that resulted in death, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

David Lee Davila, 29, Penitas, and Nathan Lee Tamez, 30, Donna, pleaded guilty Oct. 31, 2019, to one count of conspiracy to transport aliens resulting in the death of a person. Tamez also admitted to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Today, U.S. District Judge Randy Crane sentenced Davila to 188 months in federal prison, while Tamez received a 151-month term of imprisonment.

In May 2019, Davila was involved in an unrelated incident in which a shooting occurred in connection with transporting aliens. Davila knew the danger the job entailed, still hired Tamez and a woman in June 2019 to transport aliens to another smuggler on his behalf.

When they arrived at the meeting location along with Davila, there was an altercation with the other party which led to gunfire. Everyone fled the scene which led to two vehicles chasing and striking each other. Ultimately, the woman Davila hired lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a residence in Alamo. Both she and Tamez were shot multiple times. The woman later succumbed to her injuries and subsequently died.

Davila and Tamez have been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility designated in the near future.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Alamo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarina S. DiPiazza prosecuted the case.