Two former soldiers stationed at Fort Hood in Texas have been ordered to federal prison for conspiring to transport undocumented aliens within the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Emmanuel Oppongagyare, 22, pleaded guilty on August 11, 2021, while Ralph Gregory Saint-Joie, 19, pleaded guilty the following day.
The two former soldiers were caught attempting to go through the Border Patrol Checkpoint in Hebbronville on June 13, 2021, wearing their army-issued uniforms. Upon inspection, authorities discovered two individuals hidden in the trunk who were determined to be in the country illegally.
The defendants were identified as active duty and Pennsylvania National Guard members stationed at Fort Hood at the time of their arrest. The investigation revealed that Isaiah Gore had hired them and instructed them to wear their uniforms to possibly avoid questioning.
According to court documents, Oppongagyare admitted that a person he met through Saint-Joie recruited him to pick up the aliens from McAllen and drive them to San Antonio. The two Mexican nationals hidden in the vehicle admitted to paying Oppongagyare and Saint-Joie a fee in exchange for passage into the United States.
U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña imposed a 21-month-term of imprisonment for Oppongagyare, while Saint-Joie received 13 months. Both must also serve three years of supervised release following their sentences.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of the Army – Criminal Investigations Division, with the assistance of Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Bajew and Mark Hicks prosecuted the case.
At the hearing, the court heard additional testimony from both men. Oppongagyare remarked that, “On June 13, I made one of the worst mistakes of my life,” while Saint-Joie stated he was ashamed of what he did. In handing down the prison terms, Judge Saldaña commented, “you made a horrible mistake and you’re going to get punished for it. You’re going to go to prison,” and that the defendants were “really vested in trying to make this successful.”
Both Oppongagyare and Saint-Joie were permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility in the near future.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Human Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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