Jose Alberto Izquierdo-Gonzalez, Alien Smuggling, Texas 2013

LAREDO, Texas – A Laredo man has been sentenced to 98 months in federal prison for his role in a brazen alien smuggling operation that left a Border Patrol agent injured.

Jose Alberto Izquierdo-Gonzalez, 28, was convicted of assaulting Border Patrol agents and transporting aliens, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Izquierdo-Gonzalez entered a guilty plea on March 28, 2013.

On January 8, 2013, Border Patrol agents witnessed Izquierdo-Gonzalez loading aliens onto his Ford F-250 truck near the Rancho Viejo Subdivision in Laredo. When he saw the agents, he sped away, dragging one alien behind the truck and injuring another agent in the process.

Izquierdo-Gonzalez continued to evade authorities, ramming several Border Patrol vehicles and crashing into a nearby ditch before finally being apprehended. Two of the passengers, who were identified as aliens illegally in the United States, claimed they had paid smugglers to get a ride from Izquierdo-Gonzalez.

During his sentencing hearing, Izquierdo-Gonzalez claimed he did not know there were people in the bed of his truck, saying he was simply giving a ride to his girlfriend and another person. However, Judge George P. Kazen was not convinced, noting Izquierdo-Gonzalez’s prior convictions for alien smuggling in 2009 and 2010.

The case was investigated by the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Laredo Police Department and the Webb County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant United States Attorney Homero Ramirez prosecuted the case.

The sentencing of Izquierdo-Gonzalez serves as a reminder of the dangers and consequences of alien smuggling. As the investigation and prosecution of these cases continue, the community can rest assured that those responsible will be held accountable for their actions.

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