Juan Manuel Tena, Alien Smuggling, Texas 2024

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Deadly Alien Smuggling Ring Busted in Texas

In a shocking turn of events, U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani announced the arrest of six individuals accused of running a deadly alien smuggling ring in the state of Texas.

The suspects, Juan Manuel Tena, 39, of Pharr, and Julia Isairis Torres, 37, Israel Torres Jr., 33, Erasmo Garcia III, 21, and Alexis Rafael Adorno, all of Roma, as well as Jose Refugio Torres, 26, of Austin, were taken into custody over the last three days.

The indictment, which was returned on January 10, alleges that the group conspired to transport illegal aliens from the Rio Grande Valley to destinations within the United States. Tragically, their actions resulted in the deaths of eight aliens and seriously injured two others.

The indictment charges Tena and his co-conspirators with conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death, as well as multiple counts of transporting illegal aliens resulting in death. Tena, Julia Torres, Israel Torres, Jose Torres, and Garcia are also accused of attempting to smuggle illegal aliens in March 2019 by motor vehicle from the Rio Grande Valley to Houston.

According to the indictment, during the failed attempt, a vehicle rolled over and caused the deaths of four non-U.S. citizens, with serious injuries to one other. The indictment also charges Tena and Adorno with attempting to smuggle illegal aliens in February 2022 by watercraft from South Padre Island to the Corpus Christi area. The watercraft allegedly capsized, resulting in the deaths of four illegal aliens and the serious injury of another.

The suspects face up to life in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine for the conspiracy, as well as up to 20 years for each count of transporting illegal aliens resulting in serious bodily injury. The indictment also includes a notice of forfeiture, identifying several properties allegedly purchased with illegal proceeds of criminal activity.

The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with the assistance of the Border Patrol, Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations, police departments in Port Mansfield and South Padre Island, Texas Rangers, Texas Game Wardens, sheriff’s offices in Kenedy, Duval, and Willacy Counties, and the Willacy County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edgardo J. Rodriguez and David A. Lindenmuth are prosecuting the case. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.