Eagle Pass Police Detective Charged with Harboring Conspiracy

DEL RIO – Hazel Eileen Diaz, aka Sandra, 51, a detective with the Eagle Pass Police Department was arrested in Eagle Pass today on criminal charges related to her alleged participation in a conspiracy to harbor undocumented noncitizens. 

On December 8, 2021, Diaz; Tomas Alejandro Mendez, 26; and Paola Nikole Cazares, 20, were all charged by superseding indictment with one count of conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens, pursuant to Title 8, United States Code, Section 1324.  If convicted, the defendants face up to 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Mendez and Cazares, both from Eagle Pass, were previously arrested and remain in federal custody since their arrest on August 26, 2021. 

U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs made the announcement.

The FBI, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Kam is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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