Two South Texas gang members have been sentenced for human smuggling, following a sequence of high-speed chases on the border that concerned one of many gang members crashing his automobile into the Rio Grande and swimming to Mexico to flee.
A Monday assertion by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) mentioned the 2 human smugglers, Juan Miguel Regalado, 28, and Samuel Grajeda Jr., 21, are members of “Puro Tango Blast,” a neighborhood Texas gang.
The 2 have been sentenced on Could 15 after being convicted of conspiracy to move undocumented immigrants, following an investigation by ICE, U.S. Border Patrol Laredo Sector and the Texas Division of Public Security.
U.S. District Decide John Kazen imposed a 66-month sentence for Regalado, whereas Grajeda beforehand acquired a 30-month imprisonment in addition to a consecutive six months for violating the phrases of his supervised launch for a earlier alien transporting conviction. Each should additionally serve three years of supervised launch.
Each males admitted to involvement within the human smuggling conspiracy.
Two South Texas gang members have been sentenced for smuggling, following a sequence of high-speed chases on the border that concerned one of many gang members crashing his automobile into the Rio Grande and swimming to Mexico to flee.
In response to the ICE assertion, the investigation started April 20, 2024, when a gaggle of suspected unlawful aliens entered a inexperienced Tahoe in a sector of the border simply north of Laredo, Texas.
The assertion mentioned that Regalado was driving and led legislation enforcement on a high-speed chase, throughout which “multiple individuals jumped out of the vehicle.”
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Driving as much as 100 miles per hour, Regalado crashed the Tahoe into the Rio Grande after which proceeded to flee by swimming throughout the river to Mexico.
Authorities continued to observe the world over the subsequent a number of months. In November 2024, one other group of unlawful aliens entered a white Ford Taurus parked within the space. Authorities adopted the car till one other car, a black Mercedes, reduce them off. ICE mentioned that the 2 automobiles have been pushed by Grajeda and Regalado.
The Rio Grande is seen from Laredo, Texas, U.S., September 19, 2020. Image taken September 19, 2020. (REUTERS/Veronica G. Cardenas)
A visitors cease of the Ford Taurus led to a different car pursuit wherein Grajeda crashed right into a bystander’s car. Legislation enforcement ultimately found the Ford Taurus deserted in a north Laredo neighborhood. Authorities then discovered 4 unlawful aliens and Grajeda and Regalado throughout the neighborhood of the deserted car.
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Each gang members are at the moment in custody.
Craig Larrabee, ICE Homeland Safety Investigations San Antonio Particular Agent in Cost, mentioned that “these sentences reflect the serious consequences awaiting those who engage in human smuggling and endanger public safety.”
Larrabee mentioned that “Tango Blast gang members put countless lives at risk during these reckless pursuits” and that “through strong collaboration with our federal and state law enforcement partners, we remain committed to dismantling violent criminal organizations and protecting our communities.”
