HOUSTON – A grim tally of 376 people were charged this week in a massive Operation Take Back America push, including the stunning revelation that Kenneth Gamboa allegedly drove a box truck stuffed with 40 illegal aliens to a Border Patrol checkpoint. The grim figures announced by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei mark an intensification in the fight against southern border insecurity.
Among the 376 charged, 18 are accused of human smuggling, 206 face charges for illegal entry into the country, and another 150 are alleged to have reentered the United States after being removed. The majority of those foreign nationals have prior records involving narcotics, violent crime, immigration offenses, and more.
One of the week’s most harrowing cases involves Gamboa, who is charged with human smuggling and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. The investigation revealed a false wall in the storage area of Gamboa’s vehicle, which had been used to create a hidden compartment for the aliens, with multiple boards securely fastened to trap them inside.
In McAllen, four people were charged with their own roles in an alien smuggling ring operating in Hidalgo County. Enrique Gonzalez and Rigoberto Esteban Perez-Cruz, both from the Rio Grande Valley, and Mexican nationals Erick Vallejo-Zapata and Mirza Garcia-Zapata are accused of harboring, transporting, and facilitating illegal aliens from various nations.
Carlos Alberto Garza-Garcia, another Mexican national, was found unlawfully present in the United States after being removed just this year. He faces charges of felony illegal reentry after removal, with a sentence of up to 20 years if convicted.
The sweep also included Elmer Leonel Ramos-Agurcia, who attacked law enforcement agents as he attempted to enter the country without documentation and was subsequently sentenced to 18 months in federal prison. The charges are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide effort involving multiple federal agencies.
Related Federal Cases
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Human Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
